Couple arrested for Senoia bank robbery

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

A Newnan couple has been arrested for the Tuesday afternoon robbery of the Bank of Coweta’s Senoia branch, police said.

Jason and Mary Stephens worked together in the robbery, according to Sgt. John Lewis of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Department. Jason Stephens, 30, entered the bank, produced a bag and asked for it to be filled with cash, although he never displayed a weapon, Lewis said. He wore a black hat with a blond wig and artificial facial hair in an attempt to disguise his identity, Lewis said.

“He looked like he was dressed up for Halloween,” Lewis noted.

After exiting the bank, Jason Stephens left in a grey colored vehicle with a paper drive-out tag from an auto dealer and met up with his wife, Mary, 22, giving her the bag of money and some clothing he wore as a disguise, asking her to dispose of them, Lewis said.

After the exchange, Cpl. Donna Sheain of the sheriff’s department spotted Jason Stephens’ vehicle on Gordon Road heading toward Newnan and initiated a traffic stop, leading to his arrest for two outstanding bad check warrants, Lewis said.

Meanwhile, a tip was called in that Jason Stephens had purchased the getaway vehicle the day before along with a red Saturn vehicle, and that led officers to Mary Stephens at the couple’s residence, Lewis said. The red Saturn turned out to be the vehicle Mrs. Stephens drove away from the scene with, Lewis said, adding that Mrs. Stephens has been cooperative with detectives working the case.

“It started out as a good plan but I don’t think it worked out for them,” Lewis said of moving the money and other evidence to the second vehicle.

When officers arrived at the Stephens’ residence, they noticed items on fire which turned out to be the clothing and a gun magazine believed to have been used in the robbery, Lewis said. Some of the evidence was rescued from the fire, Lewis said.

Jason Stephens has been charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and one count of felony theft by taking. Mary Stephens is charged with being a party to the crime of armed robbery.