NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIP -- A long-time attorney is locked up in Schuylkill County, accused of robbing a bank near Pottsville Tuesday morning.
Now, there may be some more insight into why he did it.
The accused bank robber, Steven Cormier, 57, been an attorney for more than 30 years, but he told a judge Tuesday afternoon he hasn't worked in months, and still had the responsibility of taking care of his disabled mother.
His mother spoke with Newswatch 16 Tuesday night. She said she can't believe he resorted to this.
State police say Cormier robbed a Wells Fargo Bank inside the Fairlane Village Mall near Pottsville. They said they found him minutes later in a getaway car with more than $15,000 in cash inside the vehicle.
"We're flabbergasted. I talked to all my other kids tonight. We're crying. We're praying," said Cary Sinclair, Cormier's mother.
She says her son fell on hard times after losing his job earlier this year. He still had the responsibility of taking care of her physically and financially. But still, she never would've imagined he'd rob a bank.
In fact while he was being arrested, she thought he was out applying for a job.
"I know he's been on unemployment. In fact I asked him last night how long that was going to last. He said about a month."
"I think he should have found another job instead of stealing. And try to find other ways to help his mom," said Michelle Aderhold of Pottsville.
"Hard times make people do hard things. I don't use that as an excuse, but when times are tough and push comes to shove, you never know what a person is capable of doing," said Dez Marshall of Pottsville.
Steven Cormier is locked up in prison with bail set at $100,000. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 20. He did say he does not plan on representing himself.
