Peru Bank Robbery Trial Continues

Closing arguments are expected tomorrow afternoon in the trial of a man accused of robbing Peru Federal Savings Bank last September.

36 year old Chad Diederich of Carbon Cliff is accused of stealing just over five thousand dollars from the bank.  He and a Rock Island man who is thought to be the getaway driver were arrested just minutes after the heist in Ottawa.

A state police crime scene investigator was called to the stand today.  He identified a robbery note found at the counter of Peru Federal Savings Bank along with a hat, khakis, bag, toy pistol package and over five thousand dollars that was allegedly found where Diederich was sitting in the alleged getaway car.

Diederich is defending himself.  He faces 4 to 15 years if convicted by a jury of aggravated robbery.  He has a prior conviction of aggravated robbery.