Trial opens in bank robbery

A jury of 10 men and three women was seated Tuesday in the trial of a 27-year-old snowboarder accused of taking $4,807 at gunpoint from the Minden branch of Bank of America.

The panel, which includes an alternate, was selected after nearly 3-1/2 hours of questioning by Judge Michael Gibbons and lawyers Michael McCormick and Tod Young.

Young is representing defendant Steven Simmons of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., charged with robbery with the use of a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm with the serial number changed, or obliterated.

Opening arguments were set to begin in the afternoon with both lawyers anticipating the trial would be concluded Friday.

McCormick said he expected to call 26 witnesses.

Simmons, who sat expressionless during the proceedings Tuesday, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted on all counts. He also could face federal charges.

He is accused of taking $4,807 from the Minden bank branch at gunpoint Nov. 22, 2005 just before the close of business.

There were no injuries and Simmons was apprehended about 45 minutes later hiding in a dog crate at a residence in the upscale Minden subdivision Mackland, less than a mile from the bank.

The money was recovered.

Simmons has been in Douglas County Jail on $250,000 bail since his arrest.

Potential jurors were asked Tuesday if they knew the defendant or any witnesses, whether they had been crime victims and if they owned and operated firearms.

Gibbons admonished the jurors against discussing the proceedings. He told them not to read or listen to any news accounts of the case and to stay out of the bank.

He told the jurors to inform court officers if anyone tries to contact them.

"You alone decide this case," Gibbons told the jurors.