Extradition postponed for city bank heist suspect

View larger image James Louis Whittlesey

By Alex Bridges -- abridges@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- Canadian immigration authorities on Thursday gave bank heist suspect James Louis Whittlesey one more chance to obtain a lawyer before he faces possible deportation to the United States.

Whittlesey appeared before Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board for a hearing to declare him unfit to remain in Canada as a foreign national and to render a deportation order. Canada could deport Whittlesey, 51, last known to live in Maryland, back to the United States, where he faces charges of armed bank robbery in three states, including the Oct. 14 heist of the United Bank in Winchester.

The board member presiding over the hearing, Mariso Mutso, granted the delay but advised Whittlesey the matter would proceed March 1 at 9 a.m. regardless of whether he had had counsel, according to Robert Gervais, senior communications adviser to the agency.

Whittlesey remains detained on the grounds that he poses a flight risk and a danger to the public, according to Gervais, who cited the results of the latest detention review hearing.

The minister's representative of the Canada Border Services Agency asked for a postponement of the hearing, Gervais stated. The agency claims Whittlesey has "contravened" the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act because of serious criminality, Gervais explained.

Winchester authorities charged Whittlesey with robbery and a related gun offense as well as attempted capital murder of a police officer. Federal authorities charged Whittlesey with offenses related to bank heists in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Whittlesey asked for the postponement because "he has been making efforts to secure counsel but has not succeeded in finding one able to represent him today," Gervais states.

Musto granted the postponement because Mr. Whittlesey appears to have been diligent in his attempts to retain counsel but has been unsuccessful to date, Gervais notes. Given that this was the fourth postponement request in this file, Mutso determined the matter should be set as "peremptory."

"It was explained to Mr. Whittlesey that barring any extreme circumstances, the matter would proceed at the next sitting with or without counsel," Gervais states.