Judge reduces bail for Peabody man charged in bank robbery

SALEM – A Superior Court judge slashed the bail for a Peabody man in half during a hearing in Salem Superior Court Wednesday.Richard Thorne, 29, of 28 Veterans Memorial Drive, Peabody, who allegedly robbed the Bank of America on State Street in Lynn earlier this month, petitioned the higher court for a reduction of the $50,000 cash bail ordered last week by Lynn District Court Judge James Lamothe.Salem Superior Court Judge John T. Lu cut the amount to $25,000 cash.Police said Thorne walked into the bank wearing a red ball cap and red Boston T-shirt and passed a note to the teller that read, “I got a gun and will use.” The teller handed an undetermined amount of cash to the hold-up man, who then left the bank without the note.A few days later, police received an anonymous tip fingering Thorne as the robber. The caller reportedly told police that Thorne had been bragging about the bank robbery.Prosecutor Meg Morrissey urged the judge not to reduce the bail, citing the suspect’s criminal history.Defense lawyer Rebecca Whitehill asked for a reduction to a “more reasonable” amount, telling Lu that her client grew up in the area, had strong roots, prior jobs and had a job available for him if he made bail.