Lynn bank robbery suspect pleads guilty

SALEM – A Lynn man who stole money from a downtown bank twice during a week-long crime spree last summer to support his addiction is headed to state prison for up to five years.In Salem Superior Court Monday afternoon, Douglas N. Wilson, 42, of 38-R South Elm St., made his plea to two counts of unarmed robbery before Judge David A. Lowy.Wilson was sentenced to serve not less than one year and not more than five years in state prison. Upon his release Wilson will be on probation for another three years at which time he is to receive inpatient drug treatment for not less than six months or more than nine months.Lowy also ordered him to write letter of apology to the victims in the case, not use any prescribed or non-prescribed narcotics, no alcohol consumption, random screenings and stay away from the victims.Assistant District Attorney Kristen R. Buxton said the case arises out of two holdups in July at the Sovereign Bank branch located at 35 Market Square in Lynn.On July 8 around 4:30 p.m., a heavy-set man wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap walked into the bank and walked up to a female teller where he handed her a bag and note stating, “It is a robbery. Don’t want anybody to get hurt.”When the quick-acting teller pressed the silent alarm, Wilson noticed and ordered her to put both her hands on the counter as he grabbed the bag containing $272.50 and quickly fled from the bank.A week later, on July 15, he again walked into the same bank branch and used the same technique, again handing a similar note to another female teller, this time fleeing with $300 in cash.Authorities reviewing the bank’s surveillance camera put together a photo array and showed it to witnesses who linked Wilson to both holdups.Wilson was arrested at his home following an investigation.The punishment was less than the sentence of three to five years in prison with probation suggested by Buxton.Defense lawyer Christopher Norris pleaded with Lowy for one to three years in prison with probation and inpatient drug and alcohol treatment.He told Lowy that his client has a chronic substance abuse issue and is self-aware of his problem.Norris said his client had been sober for a time, but relapsed several months before the robbery after injuring himself in a fall and being prescribed pain medication.Wilson, a lifelong resident of Lynn, apologized to the judge for his actions, explaining his battle with drugs and alcohol.Wilson was indicted by an Essex County grand jury last August and has been held in lieu of bail at the Middleton Jail since and will receive credit for the time he has spent in jail awaiting trial on the case.