Crime & Safety

La Mesan Who Robbed Temecula Bank Gets 1 Year and Probation

Michael Joseph Hamel, 47, pleaded guilty to robbing a Temecula bank by passing a threatening note to a teller.

A La Mesa man who robbed Provident Bank in Temecula was sentenced to one year in jail and 60 months of probation.

Michael Joseph Hamel, 47, pleaded guilty to two charges of robbery and burglary on Feb. 2 and was sentenced Monday at the Southwest Justice Center, according to court records.

He allegedly handed a letter to a teller saying he had a gun in December and ran off with several thousand dollars, according to sheriff's officials.

Hamel was also sentenced to complete a substance abuse treatment program due to his marijuana addiction. He may also face deportation, because he was born in Canada and unsure of his citizenship status.

To read about the possible consequences and the reasoning behind the sentence, .

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