Brother and sister are sentenced in Excelsior Springs bank robbery

Kansas siblings were sentenced Tuesday to federal prison for their roles in the armed robbery of an Excelsior Springs bank.

In separate court hearings, Charles Ralph Spencer, 25, received eight years and six months and Virginia Lynn Spencer, 29, received 10 years and three months. Both are from Kansas City, Kan.

They pleaded guilty Feb. 2 to stealing $11,883 from the Bank Midwest branch at 201 N. Jesse James Road on May 23, 2014.

Before the holdup, they bought black University of Missouri T-shirts, a package of gardening gloves, head coverings and sunglasses at a K-Mart store in Independence. They also bought black dye for Charles Spencer’s facial hair and electrical tape for Virginia Spencer’s shoes.

They cased Missouri banks in Polo, Braymer and Richmond before deciding to rob the Excelsior Springs bank, according to federal authorities.

During the robbery, Charles Spencer waved a .32-caliber revolver. Virginia Spencer concluded the heist with “have a nice day” as the two ran to a car driven by a co-defendant, Steven Dale Robinson, 23.

Clay County deputies arrested the three after the car they were in crashed in Liberty as they were being pursued.

Robinson pleaded guilty in November and was sentenced to six years and eight months.

This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 3:43 PM with the headline "Brother and sister are sentenced in Excelsior Springs bank robbery."