71-year-old ex-lawman gets 8 years for Boonton bank robbery
A 71-year-old retired Essex County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison for robbing a Santander Bank in Boonton last year of $2,750 after threatening to shoot a female bank teller.
Harry E. Schnitzer, a U.S. Air Force veteran, previously was sentenced in 2006 to five years in federal prison for robbing three banks in New Jersey — crimes committed after he was forced to take a disability retirement in 2002 from his position with Essex County.
Superior Court Judge Stuart Minkowitz, sitting in Morristown, sounded nearly regretful as he sentenced Schnitzer to an eight-year term, but he told the defendant that he “has not gotten the message” from the federal prison stint and society needs to be protected from a risk he might re-offend.
Under the sentence, Schnitzer must serve 85 percent of eight years, or six years and 10 months before parole consideration. He will get credit for 365 days he already has served in the Morris County jail since his arrest.
“I have to believe there is something psychological there that would cause a man who would first defend his country, then have a law enforcement career” and later start robbing banks, Minkowitz said.
“I do not relish sending you to prison, I truly do not,” Minkowitz told Schnitzer, adding that he appears to be in good health and should avail himself of psychological counseling.
Both Schnitzer and his defense lawyer Jessica Moses noted that Schnitzer has had psychological counseling in the past, and Moses said she believes “mental health issues” are behind the crimes. But Schnitzer himself told the judge he couldn’t explain his actions.
“I honestly don’t know. I wish I knew,” Schnitzer blurted out when the judge expressed puzzlement over his crimes. “I did pray for the victims. I do care and I did care.”
When specifically asked if he wanted to make a statement, Schnitzer told the judge: “I am extremely sorry for everything. I hurt my family and friends. I disappointed them. That I’m even here, I’m shamefaced.”
Moses told the judge: “It’s almost impossible to explain.”
Schnitzer had pleaded guilty in December to one count of robbery at the Santander Bank on Main Street in Boonton on April 30, 2014. He told a female teller “Gimme all your money or I will shoot you,” and thrust his hand in a pocket to make it appear he had a weapon, authorities said.
His apprehension was facilitated by his appearance a day earlier at a Valley National Bank in Landing, where his behavior roused suspicions and employees noted his license plate number when he left. Schnitzer’s image, captured on surveillance cameras, was circulated after the Santander heist and Valley National Bank employees recognized him and alerted police, authorities said.
Schnitzer was traced to the Red Roof Inn on Route 46 in Parsippany, and authorities found all but $250 of the $2,750 he robbed from Santander Bank.
Moses asked the judge to impose a five-year term, arguing that Schnitzer’s age may cause him difficulty in prison and she believes he did not contemplate harm when he robbed the bank. Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Brian DiGiacomo, who asked for an eight-year term, said Schnitzer’s age was taken into account when the plea offer was made, and the bank tellers believed he meant harm when he threatened to pull out a gun.
“I believe Mr. Schnitzer got the benefit of the bargain,” DiGiacomo said. “Quite frankly, judge, he threatened to shoot someone. I think his past history is the best indicator of future conduct.”
Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com.