Grand Blanc Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing TCF Bank in Hartland in 2007

Keith A. Williams of Grand Blanc — one of two defendants charged with robbing the in Hartland in 2007 — pleaded guilty Friday to bank robbery, according to the Livingston County Circuit Court.

Williams, 31, is scheduled to be sentenced July 28 while the case against Jason T. Patterson of Burton has been delayed until July 8 for a settlement conference with a July 11 as a possible trial date, court information shows.

The Livingston County Prosecutor David Morse was unavailable for comment Friday afternoon. The maximum sentence is life imprisonment, according to state law. But in exchange for the plea, prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 3 years to 15 years in prison, according to a report in the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus.

The Genesee County duo were arraigned in February on charges of bank robbery after the Livingston County Sheriff's Department investigated a tip that led them to additional evidence against the two men.

The two are accused of being the pair who entered the bank about 9 a.m. March 5, 2007. The thieves wore hooded sweatshirts, ball caps and sunglasses, with one man handing a teller a note saying it was a robbery. The two left the bank, 10065 E. Highland Rd., with about $5,000, a figure reported by the newspaper.

Key to the case was surveillance video from the neighboring 10073 E. Highland Rd., where police say one of the men is shown stealing sunglasses. The images, which were distributed to the media, led to the recent tip.

The case is currently before Livingston Circuit Judge Michael P. Hatty.