Forrest Lytell, an 83-year-old man from Austintown, Ohio, has avoided a prison sentence for robbing a PNC Bank in November. Instead of facing 8 to 10 years in prison, Lytell was placed into Mahoning County’s Veterans Court program after pleading guilty to robbery and inducing panic. If he successfully completes the program, the charges will be dropped.
Lytell, a veteran of both the Army and Navy, had no prior criminal history before the bank robbery. On the day of the robbery, he entered the bank, handed the teller a note demanding money, and received just over $300, including $250 in bait currency, which had traceable serial numbers. Police tracked him down using the GPS signal from the bait money.
Lytell explained that his financial struggles, partly due to his wife’s health issues, led him to rob the bank. Despite the crime, Lytell expressed relief and optimism, saying he was grateful for the support he would receive through the veterans’ program.
