Utah robbery suspect changes court plea

A man suspected of robbing a Utah bank pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors.

Robert David Bingle appeared in the Third District Court of Judge Nena James at a change of plea and sentencing to a felony wrongful taking or disposing or property and a misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, heroin.

Bingle pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle and possession of a controlled substance.

Under the plea agreement, Bingle was sentenced to 17 days in the Sweetwater County Detention Center with credit given for 17 days already served.

According to court documents, on Aug. 31, 2014, a Green River Police officer was conducting a check at Expedition Island. While completing a search, the officer noticed a maroon-colored Toyota Tacoma pickup parked facing south along the south parking spots. The officer placed his headlights on the truck and saw a white male sitting in the rear passenger seat of the truck.

The officer made contact with the man who identified himself as Robert David Bingle, which matched his Utah driver’s license.

Documents state dispatch ran a check on the vehicle’s registration and on Bingle. The vehicle returned with positive confirmation that the Toyota Tacoma entered NCIC as a stolen vehicle. Dispatch also informed the officer that attached to the stolen vehicle report was that the vehicle was possible being driven by Bingle, who was considered armed and dangerous due to being a possible suspect in bank robbery in Murray, Utah.

Bingle was searched and placed in the patrol vehicle.

The owner of the Toyota Tacoma, Terri Bingle, said her son Robert David Bingle had stole it on Aug. 28. She said she had filed a police report with the Sandy Police Department.

She told the officer that her son was addicted to heroin.

While investigating the stolen vehicle aspect of the case, officers saw a plastic syringe on the front passenger seat and four small white balloons, which were tightly wrapped in the console between the two front seats. The balloons and syringe were taken into evidence. A search of Bingle’s wallet turned up seven more balloons, which were in his wallet. The total weight of all of the balloons was 3.35 grams. One of the packaged balloons tested positive for heroin.