Passive bank robber guilty

A Chula Vista woman admitted Sept. 16 to robbing the California Coast Credit Union as well as grand theft in an earlier incident.

Sarah Monique Martinez, 33, pleaded guilty before Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Dwayne Moring. Sentencing was set for Oct. 17.

Deputy District Attorney Kristina Hein said Martinez faces a maximum sentence of five years and eight months in prison, but a lesser sentence with probation terms is the expected outcome.

A second robbery charge was dismissed after Martinez pleaded guilty to grand theft from a person on July 1. Another charge of possession of methamphetamine for sale was dropped.

Chula Vista Police said Martinez entered the credit union around 1:48 p.m. on July 30 and waited in line to see a bank teller, to whom she presented a demand note.

The teller gave her money from the cash drawer, and then Martinez fled. No weapons were seen. Officers interviewed witnesses and viewed surveillance camera footage.

An officer spotted Martinez around 4:30 p.m. later that same day in the 600 block of Broadway and detained her. Martinez admitted to being at the bank earlier and police said they found evidence linking her to the robbery.

She remains in the Las Colinas Women’s Detention Facility on $130,000 bail.