SENTENCED: Probation for 23-year-old woman for her role in bank robbery

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- 23-year-old Clarissa Burnette has been sentenced for her role in the robbery of the North Shore Bank on West Oklahoma Avenue back on September 12th of 2013.

Burnette faced one felony count of harboring or aiding a felon.

Clarissa Burnette



A judge on Thursday, May 15th sentenced Burnette to one year in the House of Correction, with credit for 16 days served.

That sentenced was stayed -- and Burnette was placed on probation for 18 months.

The three others charged in the case are Christopher Copeland, Christopher Jackson and Myrhaz Posey.

31-year-old Copeland faced a felony charge of robbery of a financial institution in this case -- but he was found NOT GUILTY in a jury trial.

20-year-old Christopher Jackson faced a felony charge of robbery of a financial institution -- and was CONVICTED due to a guilty plea.

Jackson was sentenced to three years in prison, and three years of extended supervision for his role in the robbery.

26-year-old Myrhaz Posey also pleaded guilty to a felony count of robbery of a financial institution and CONVICTED in this case.

He was sentenced to three years in prison and three years of extended supervision.

Burnette is the last to be sentenced in this case.

A criminal complaint filed in this case says the North Shore Bank was robbed after Burnette lost her job.

The complaint says the group of defendants in this case planned the robbery after discussing financial problems.

According to the complaint, Jackson and Posey entered the bank with demand notes while Copeland and Brunette waited in the “getaway” vehicle.

Police say Jackson and Posey entered and the North Shore Bank around 12:30 p.m., approached a teller window, and presented a demand note that read: “You have 30 seconds to give me everything in your drawer or I’ll kill you.”

The complaint indicates Jackson approached the teller and passed the note — while Posey waited nearby.

According to the complaint, the bank teller took cash from her drawer along with bait money and a red dye pack and gave them to Jackson. After receiving approximately $5,200 in cash, Jackson and Posey left the bank, and the teller hit the alarm button.

Shortly after the robbery, officers located the suspects walking in the vicinity of the bank — with red smoke coming from their pockets due to the actively burning dye packs. The suspects attempted to flee the scene on foot.