A man accused of multiple bank robberies in three counties has been ordered to stand trial in a case that’s seen multiple delays. 39-year-old Gregory Wise was arrested in December of 2023 at his Redding home. The method was the same in each of the robberies. The suspect wore a full over-the-head mask of a bald old man, as well as a medical mask, sunglasses and gloves, making identification almost impossible. In each case the robber showed a note to a teller demanding money, but a weapon was never seen. He hit the Umpqua Bank on Churn Creek Road, the Tri-Counties Bank on Mangrove in Chico and the U.S. Bank on Main Street in Red Bluff. Detectives from the three cities merged their investigations and centered in on Wise. Detectives say the mask, gloves and some of the money was found in his backyard. Wise has prior convictions involving weapons, theft and stalking, and had been released from parole on the day of the first robbery. Trial dates were set for last March but the case timed out and had to be refiled. Another preliminary hearing was held Thursday and Wise returns to court February 6th. He’ll also face charges separately in the other two counties.
-Steve Gibson