Grand Jury Returns Indictment Charging Man with Five Bank, Credit Union Robberies in February and March 2014

            SALT LAKE CITY - A federal grand jury returned an indictment Wednesday afternoon  charging Michael Alexander Bacon, age 45, of Salt Lake City, with five bank and credit union robberies in Salt Lake City, West Valley City, and North Salt Lake between Feb. 3 and March 24, 2014.

            The indictment charges Bacon with a Feb. 3, 2014, robbery of Zions Bank in North Salt Lake; a Feb. 19, 2014, robbery of Mountain America Credit Union in Salt Lake City; a March 21, 2014, robbery of  Zions Bank in West Valley City; and March 24, 2014, robberies of U.S. Bank and Chase Bank, both in Salt Lake City.

            Bacon was arrested a few days after the last two bank robberies when a Salt Lake City police officer saw the defendant at a shopping center and recognized him as the suspect from the bank robberies.  The officer approached the defendant and ordered him to stop. Bacon did not follow the command and fled on foot into a nearby store.  Officers pursued him and apprehended him.

            The potential maximum penalty for each count of bank robbery is 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.  Bacon is in state custody on other charges and is scheduled to go to trial in early December.  Federal prosecutors will schedule an initial appearance for Bacon in federal court once the state case has been resolved.  

            Indictments are not findings of guilt.  Individuals charged in indictments are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court.