CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A federal judge sentenced a Missouri man known as "The Plaid Shirt Robber" to 20 years in prison Monday for robbing the Summit Community Bank at Southridge Centre in August 2008.

In April, Joseph Paul Young, 38, of Rogersville, Mo., admitted he took almost $17,500 from the bank after he walked in and demanded money from two tellers.

He also acknowledged he held up the City National Bank in St. Albans in April 2008 and the City National branch on MacCorkle Avenue in Charleston in July 2008.

On Monday, Chief U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin told Young that he had become a danger to society, describing him as "a serial bank robber who has scared the wits out of a lot of people."

Young's criminal history, which includes prior convictions on federal bank-robbing charges in Arkansas in 1995 and a state conviction for robbing a convenience store in Little Rock in 1999, meant he qualified as a career criminal, the judge said.

"Apparently, the only way to protect the public is to keep you away from society as long as possible," he said.

The tellers at the banks he robbed suffered significant psychological trauma after being threatened and intimidated by Young, Goodwin said.

Two tellers from Summit Community Bank attended the hearing. One told the judge that she has had many restless nights and was scared to go back to work after Young's heist.

Investigators nicknamed Young "The Plaid Shirt Robber" because video surveillance from multiple bank robberies reportedly showed him in plaid shirts. Young is believed to be responsible for more than 20 robberies across multiple states, including South Dakota, Ohio, Kentucky, Minnesota and West Virginia.

Charleston police identified Young after a tipster reported seeing someone driving a truck with out-of-state license plates acting suspiciously while using an ATM on the morning of the Southridge robbery. Young was checking his bank account, which stood at $9.36, according to court documents.

When federal authorities tried to arrest Young in Missouri on Aug. 20, 2008, he escaped by jumping into a waterway following a chase at speeds of more than 90 miles per hour.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A federal judge sentenced a Missouri man known as "The Plaid Shirt Robber" to 20 years in prison Monday for robbing the Summit Community Bank at Southridge Centre in August 2008.

In April, Joseph Paul Young, 38, of Rogersville, Mo., admitted he took almost $17,500 from the bank after he walked in and demanded money from two tellers.

He also acknowledged he held up the City National Bank in St. Albans in April 2008 and the City National branch on MacCorkle Avenue in Charleston in July 2008.

On Monday, Chief U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin told Young that he had become a danger to society, describing him as "a serial bank robber who has scared the wits out of a lot of people."

Young's criminal history, which includes prior convictions on federal bank-robbing charges in Arkansas in 1995 and a state conviction for robbing a convenience store in Little Rock in 1999, meant he qualified as a career criminal, the judge said.

"Apparently, the only way to protect the public is to keep you away from society as long as possible," he said.

The tellers at the banks he robbed suffered significant psychological trauma after being threatened and intimidated by Young, Goodwin said.

Two tellers from Summit Community Bank attended the hearing. One told the judge that she has had many restless nights and was scared to go back to work after Young's heist.

Investigators nicknamed Young "The Plaid Shirt Robber" because video surveillance from multiple bank robberies reportedly showed him in plaid shirts. Young is believed to be responsible for more than 20 robberies across multiple states, including South Dakota, Ohio, Kentucky, Minnesota and West Virginia.

Charleston police identified Young after a tipster reported seeing someone driving a truck with out-of-state license plates acting suspiciously while using an ATM on the morning of the Southridge robbery. Young was checking his bank account, which stood at $9.36, according to court documents.

When federal authorities tried to arrest Young in Missouri on Aug. 20, 2008, he escaped by jumping into a waterway following a chase at speeds of more than 90 miles per hour.

Reading from prepared statement, Young apologized to any tellers he may have scared during what he termed a "ridiculous act" that was "beyond inappropriate."

"If my demands were not met, my goal or my plan was simply walk away," he said.

In January, Young apparently tried to escape from South Central Regional Jail, where he was being held until his case was resolved, by using metal objects to scrape away concrete blocks and glass from the window in his cell in the medical wing.

Before Goodwin imposed his sentence, defense attorney Christian Capece and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerald Titus argued over whether Young's actions meant he had failed to accept responsibility for his crimes.

Capece described Young's efforts as "mindless destruction," noting that guards could search his cell daily. Titus maintained that, at a minimum, Young was "pushing the envelope to see if [an] opportunity [to escape] would present itself."

Goodwin found that Young tried to escape, saying there was no other reason to flush the scrapings down the toilet. Correction officer Jeff Steele said that shortly after jail officials became aware of Young's attempts, the sewer in the medical wing backed up with pieces of cinder block and a 10-inch long metal rod.

"Was it a well thought-out plan to escape? Probably not. Was it successful? Obviously not," Goodwin noted.

If Goodwin had ruled that Young had accepted responsibility for his actions, the sentence range recommended by federal guidelines could have been reduced. The judge said that he would have imposed the maximum 20-year sentence anyway.

"There's nothing that makes me believe you wouldn't keep robbing banks if you were out," he said.

Young's sentence included more than $45,000 in restitution and a recommendation that he seek counseling for a gambling addiction.

Reach Andrew Clevenger at acleven...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.