Covington Man Indicted for Kidnapping, Armed Bank Robbery, and Firearm Offenses

COVINGTON—A Covington, Kentucky man who allegedly robbed a Kenton County Bank was indicted Thursday for kidnapping, armed bank robbery, and firearm offenses.

The indictment alleges that 39-year-old Joseph Weir abducted a woman on May 31, 2011 from the Crestview Town Center and took her to Ohio in order to delay her from reporting his theft of her possessions and in an attempt to get access to her bank accounts. He brandished a firearm during the kidnapping according to the indictment. Weir also allegedly robbed the Huntington Bank in Covington on December 5, 2011 and possessed a handgun during the commission of the offense.

Kerry B. Harvey, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Perrye Turner, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, jointly made the announcement today.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Covington Police Department; the Lakeside Park-Crestview Hills Police Department; the Boone County Sheriff’s Department; and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony J. Bracke.

Weir’s appearance before the United States District Court in Covington has not yet been set. If convicted, Weir faces a maximum of life in prison. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of sentences.

The indictment of a person by a grand jury is an accusation only, and that person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.