The bank robber dubbed the "Manila Bandit" has been sentenced to 12 years' probation, plus two years in jail for robbing six banks.
Walter Furrh, 52, pleaded guilty to six counts of robbery after being arrested in Phoenix for robberies that took place in Tucson between July and December 2010. In four of the cases, Furrh stuffed the proceeds into Manila envelopes.
Furrh could have received probation or up to 22 1/2 years in prison under the terms of his plea agreement. In a letter to Pima County Superior Court Judge Christopher Browning, Furrh wrote he robbed the banks because he felt overwhelmed and hoped to save his mother's home from foreclosure.
"I never planned these robberies, I just did them when I was on a manic enough high. I never used a weapon of any sort and certainly never wanted to hurt anyone, mentally or physically," Furrh wrote.
People are also reading…
Furrh's attorney, Assistant Pima County Public Defender Adam Page, asked for a mitigated sentence because Furrh suffers from bipolar disorder, anxiety and severe depression, had a dysfunctional childhood, is remorseful and takes care of his elderly mother and schizophrenic brother. His last conviction was for theft in 1987.
Furrh will be placed on work furlough while in jail. Once released, he will have to pay $7,255 in restitution and perform 1,200 hours of community service.
Furrh was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force on Phoenix's southern edge after Tucson detectives obtained a warrant for him and worked there with Phoenix counterparts to arrest him. He was sentenced June 15.
Contact reporter Kim Smith at 573-4241 or kimsmith@azstarnet.com
