CLEVELAND — A jury trial date for Galion’s Taylor Crisman, one of the suspects in the Ontario Key Bank hostage-style hoist that took place last November, was set in Cleveland Wednesday.
Crisman’s trial is set for Thursday, Oct. 13 before a jury and Judge Donald C. Nugent at the U.S. District Court in Cleveland. He is being tried jointly with 23-year-old Chris Hill, his co-defendant.
Authorities believe Crisman and Hill held Key Bank Manager Brian McConnell and his family hostage at gunpoint in their Ontario home overnight on Nov. 6. The following morning, officials say McConnell was forced to steal nearly $200,000 from the bank.
The defendants reportedly fled the McConnell’s residence in a tan Ford Taurus after receiving the stolen cash from McConnell.
Larry Whitney, Crisman’s defense attorney, noted his client faces 12 charges related to: bank robbery, kidnapping, receiving stolen property, brandishing a firearm during hostage taking and using threat of force against a witness to prevent or delay testimony of that witness.
Hill, who faces the same 12 charges, is being represented by attorney Fernando Mack.
According to court files, a motion to discharge Whitney as Crisman’s defense attorney was filed Aug. 5. That motion was withdrawn Wednesday, Whiteny said. He declined to comment on why the motion was filed.
U.S. Attorney Linda Barr, lead attorney in the case, did not return phone calls for comment.
