A former UC San Diego postdoctoral researcher has been charged with multiple credit union robberies that occurred in the San Diego area over the last few months, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Karl William Doron, who worked in UCSD’s Psychology department from 2014 to 2015, pleaded not guilty to 10 felony counts, including robbery and attempted robbery. The judge set his bail at $1 million, according to the District Attorney’s office.
“The 10 counts stem from nine separate incidents, including seven completed robberies, one of which had two victims,” spokeswoman Tanya Sierra said in an email to the Union-Tribune.
Doron was arrested on Tuesday, March 5 after an attempted robbery at a Navy Federal Credit Union on Mira Mesa Blvd.
San Diego Police and the FBI believe that Doron is responsible for six credit union heists in the San Diego area spanning from December to February. After being taken into custody, he was found in possession of a loaded handgun.
Deputy District Attorney Andy Aguilar said Doron allegedly began his robberies around late December, using gloves, glasses, coats and other clothing to mask his identity. He would pass notes to the tellers asking for cash, and he was successful in all but two attempts.
According to Aguilar, investigators have recovered $5,000 Doron allegedly took in his last heist, but the remaining $8,500 are outstanding.
If convicted, Doron faces fourteen years and four months in prison. He is due back in court on March 27 for a readiness conference.
Ella Chen is the News Editor of The Triton.