Sonora woman charged in three San Mateo County bank heists

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, May 13, 2009 | by Daniel Powell

REDWOOD CITY -- A woman accused of robbing two Wells Fargo banks in San Mateo and acting as an accomplice to her husband in a third Wells Fargo robbery has pleaded not guilty to all three charges, authorities said.

Eva Sharp, 48, of Sonora, is charged with three counts of robbery in San Mateo County Superior Court stemming from the string of bank heists, which all took place in 2008. A trial has been scheduled for Sept. 28.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said that, on separate occasions in early 2008, Sharp entered Wells Fargo bank branches in San Mateo and Millbrae, handed the tellers robbery notes and made off with manila envelopes filled with cash.

In July 2008, her husband, William Sharp, used a note to commit a bank robbery at the same San Mateo Wells Fargo branch his wife had allegedly robbed that January, Wagstaffe said.

Unlike his wife, William Sharp left his note behind, Wagstaffe said. When police analyzed it, they allegedly found Eva Sharp's fingerprints on it. She was booked into San Mateo County jail on March 25.

"We're basing her involvement on the fact that her fingerprints are on the note that was handed over," Wagstaffe said.

William Sharp pleaded no contest May 5 to robbery charges stemming from the July 17 heist. He faces a maximum of three years in state prison. His case is set for sentencing June 2.

Eva Sharp, who entered her not-guilty plea on Tuesday, remains in custody on $100,000 bail.