Woman to serve 5 years for Sidney bank robbery

A Potter woman who robbed a Sidney bank in 2014 was sentenced this week to five years imprisonment by a federal court.

Janetta Lenstrom's sentence was reduced from 68 months to account for time she's already served in custody, according to court documents.

Following her prison sentence, she will be subject to four years of supervised release.

A plea agreement in the case was reached in June when Lenstrom pleaded guilty to a single count of felony burglary. An additional charge for using a firearm during the crime was dismissed.

According to court documents, Lenstrom entered Sidney Federal Savings & Loan on Jan. 24, 2014, approached a bank teller and demanded money.

"The robber unzipped her coat, pulled out a gray/black handgun in a holster and placed the weapon on the counter in front of her," an affidavit in support of the criminal complaint states. "The robber kept her hands on the handgun and stated she needed money."

Lenstrom got away with $20,605.

While the robbery was taking place, another bank teller activated the bank's alarm.

Several police officers were dispatched to the location, and upon arrival, were told by employees the suspect who had fled appeared to be Lenstrom.

After reviewing surveillance footage, police agreed the suspect resembled Lenstrom – who is married to a Sidney Police Officer.

Lenstrom's husband was pulled from the investigative side of the case and interviewed. He was asked to arrange a meeting with her, to which she agreed. When she arrived at the predetermined location, she was placed into protective custody.

The account Lenstrom reportedly told investigators during the interview corroborated information gleaned from witnesses, according to court documents.

After obtaining a search warrant, authorities found a loaded handgun, a bag containing more than $20,000, maps, a pair of sunglasses and a stocking cap in her vehicle.

The day before the robbery, Lenstrom had quit her job at another Sidney bank.