LA CRESCENTA : Man, 72, Pleads Not Guilty in Robbery

A 72-year-old Eagle Rock man accused of trying to rob a bank in La Crescenta pleaded not guilty Tuesday, officials said.

After taking Antonio Estrada’s plea, Pasadena Superior Court Judge Dino Fulgoni set a pretrial conference Sept. 10. Estrada faces felony counts of attempted second-degree robbery and second-degree burglary, and two misdemeanor weapons counts.

Estrada was arrested July 2 near a Bank of America branch on Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta by Glendale police and sheriff’s deputies.

According to authorities’ testimony during a preliminary hearing in Glendale Municipal Court, he is the same person--wearing a blue jumpsuit, apparent fake beard and mustache, sunglasses and baseball cap--who entered the bank earlier in the day and stood near a doorway. He stepped outside a minute later and a teller, who noticed his strange outfit and observed that he appeared nervous, set off a silent alarm, officials said.

During the arrest, authorities seized a .38-caliber handgun, a starter’s pistol and items believed to have been used to store Estrada’s disguise, officials said. His car had no front license plate, and its rear plate was covered by a plastic bag, authorities said.

Estrada’s public defender, Jill Thomas, did not return a phone message Tuesday. Estrada is free on $8,000 bail.