Bank robber
will serve 4 years,
9 months
James Taylor Wharton
By Linda Hosek
apologizes for the state's largest
solo heist, but the judge notes
the gun he wielded
Star-BulletinA Big Island man who fled with $733,000 Jan. 5 in what may have been the state's largest solo bank robbery will serve almost five years in prison.
U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor yesterday sentenced James Taylor Wharton to 57 months in federal prison and ordered him to repay $145 to Bank of Hawaii.
Police had recovered the rest of the money within 15 minutes of the 12:15 p.m. incident at the bank's Kailua-Kona branch.
Gillmor rejected a defense motion to view Wharton's crime as aberrant behavior and lower his term to 41 months.
She cited Wharton's previous convictions for receiving stolen property and drunken driving.
She also cited the seriousness of his crime, in which his threats with what turned out to be an unloaded pellet gun caused bank officials to hand him $733,000.
"People were truly put in fear and were willing to go into the safe and get out all this money," she said, adding that most bank robberies involve considerably less money.
Gillmor referred to Wharton's pattern of alcohol abuse, but said she didn't think he could blame his problems on alcohol.
She also acknowledged Wharton's letters of support, saying he was a person capable of doing good and winning respect.
"I'd like to repeat that I have a lot of regret and remorse for what I've done," he said, adding that he hoped to become a good citizen again.
Michael Weight, deputy federal public defender, said his 39-year-old client had led a "fairly exemplary life."
He said Wharton became involved with alcohol at an early age but turned his life around, then fell back into alcohol after losing a job.
"He is not a troublemaker," Weight said, adding that Wharton was highly motivated to become productive.
He said Wharton cooperated with police as soon as he was caught, waived his indictment, and pleaded guilty, saving the government the expense of a trial.
Gillmor pointed out that Wharton, who was arrested on foot a short distance from the bank, had no time to do anything with the bundles of money.
Ron Johnson, assistant U.S attorney, said the government recommended that Wharton receive the lowest term within the guidelines of 57 to 71 months for his cooperation.
But he rejected any further drop, saying Wharton put himself and others in danger when he used the unloaded gun in the bank.
Weight said the amount Wharton took was "one of the highest, if not the highest, by a single person robbing a bank in Hawaii."
