‘Red Line Robber’ suspect to plead guilty

November 24, 2009 – The man accused of being the “Red Line Robber” will change his plea to guilty, according to his court-appointed attorney.

(Left) Surveillance photo from March 10 robbery of Chase branch at Marina City.

Lance Dennie is scheduled to go on trial next February. The 44-year-old south side man is charged with seven counts of bank robbery, including two robberies of the Chase branch at Marina City.

At a status hearing on Tuesday, public defender Robert Seeder told Marina City Online that he expects a change of plea before the trial starts.

“Mr. Dennie is looking to take responsibility for his actions,” said Seeder.

Wearing an orange jumpsuit, his hands restrained behind his back, Dennie had the same short beard that is seen in surveillance photos of the robberies.

With a jury trial still set for February 8, attorneys discussed the exchange of evidence and other documents. Of particular interest were statements Dennie is alleged to have made to Chicago police after he was arrested on August 29. Attorneys for the federal government told Magistrate Judge John W, Darrah they need to subpoena the Chicago Police Department to obtain the statements.

Since pleading not guilty on September 29, Dennie has been held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago.

The FBI nicknamed the suspect “Red Line Robber” because the robberies were near stops on the CTA Red Line. Dennie lives just south of the Red Line station at 95th Street. Besides the two robberies at Marina City, two other robberies happened a few blocks away.