Judge denies bail reduction of accused First National Bank robber

A judge Wednesday refused to reduce the bail for a man accused of robbing the First National Bank of Nevada.

"I don't think he's a flight risk, your honor. Everything he has is here," said Deputy Public Defender Karin Kreizenbeck of Paul Pasillas, a father of three daughters who has lived in Carson City for 12 years and owns a tile-setting business.

Kreizenbeck asked Justice of the Peace Robey Willis to reduce Pasillas' bail to $10,000 and put him on house arrest.

"From everything that's been said, this does not seem to be in character with the person that you are," Willis said in denying a bail reduction for Pasillas. "But my question is are you stable enough to be on the outside? Anybody who does this at 40 years old, who's never committed a crime before, your stability concerns me."

Pasillas, 46, has been in custody since his arrest March 11, a half hour after an armed man walked into the bank at Carson and William streets.

According to police reports, the loot from the robbery was found in Pasillas' pockets and in a sock, and clothing matching the suspect was found in the bathroom trash where a bartender at Barb's Y-Not Saloon said Pasillas went a short time before police arrived.

When confronted, he allegedly told police they would find the weapon, a pellet gun, on a rooftop on Corbett Street.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Anne Langer told Willis that Pasillas confessed to the robbery and wrote a letter of apology to the teller, so any upcoming hearing would be to debate a sentence and not guilt.

Langer also said she would charge Pasillas with a deadly weapon enhancement, although the weapon was a pellet gun. In arguing against bail reduction, Langer said the enhancement, which would double the penalty, would give Pasillas more of a reason to flee. He faces five to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Kreizenbeck said she'd argue against the deadly weapon enhancement.

A hearing has been set for April 15.

Contact F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.