Bank robbery suspect opts for jury trial

A New Milford man charged with robbing the Union Savings Bank in New Milford in December 2011 has rejected an offer by the state's attorney and opted for a jury trial.

The jury trial for Russell Dylan Mace, 55, is scheduled to begin Sept. 25 at state Superior Court in Litchfield.

The state's attorney's office confirmed Monday a satisfactory plea was not reached with Mr. Mace on charges of first-degree robbery, third-degree larceny and two counts of risk of injury to a child.

Mr. Mace remains in custody in New Haven Correctional Center on $150,500 bond.

He faces additional larceny and burglary charges from a theft that occurred Dec. 15, two days before the bank robbery.

Mr. Mace was taken into custody Dec. 17. Investigators said they recovered $2,777, including the marked $20 bill.

His wife, Erin Mace, 35, told police she and the couple's two children -- a boy, 4, and a girl, 1 -- waited in the car while her husband went into the bank, police said.

Erin Mace told police she and her husband were both heroin addicts. She was sentenced July 3 to five years in prison, to be suspended after 18 months and followed by three years of probation, on charges of risk of injury to a child and fifth-degree conspiracy to commit larceny.

She is incarcerated at York Correctional Institute.

stuz@newstimes.com; 860-355-7322