Escondido man to stand trial for robbing Fallbrook bank

VISTA - An Escondido man accused of holding up a Fallbrook bank and getting away with $6,000 must stand trial on a robbery charge, a judge ruled today.

John Charles O'Donnell, 30, faces up to five years in state prison if convicted, said Deputy District Attorney Brock Arstill.

Vista Judge Martin Staven, who ruled that enough evidence had been presented for the case against O'Donnell to proceed, set an April 7 trial date.

The defendant allegedly used a demand note to rob a Chase Bank branch in the 1000 block of South Mission Road about 3:30 p.m. last Dec. 9.

Tipsters identified O'Donnell as the suspected bandit from surveillance photos of the heist publicized by local news agencies. He was arrested Dec. 17 at a Vista motel.