Harrison County man admits to his involvement in bank robbery

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Blaine Allen Ash, of Bristol, West Virginia, has admitted to his involvement in the robbery of Summit Community Bank in November 2020, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.

Ash, 37, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Accessory After the Fact – Bank Robbery.” Ash admitted to assisting Clinton Monroe Utter with concealing his involvement in the robbery of the bank. Utter is accused of robbing the Summit Community Bank in Salem, West Virginia, of $69,100 on November 17, 2020. (https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/harrison-county-man-indicted-bank-robbery)

Ash is facing up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $125,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.