PORTLAND —A 70-year-old South Portland man was indicted this month on a felony charge of robbery for allegedly holding up a Bank of America. 

He later told police he needed the money to pay bills and wanted to get caught. 

Also indicted by a grand jury was a South Portland man charged with kidnapping and gross sexual assault.

Indictments are determinations that enough evidence exists to prosecute, not findings of guilt.

Accused bank robber Donald C. Sturton remains held on $5,000 cash bail. He is scheduled to appear in court again May 22 for a dispositional conference. 

Sturton could serve a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. According to police, Sturton said three to four years of jail time “would be a good thing” and a conviction wouldn’t hurt him at his age. 

He is accused of robbing the Bank of America at 425 Philbrook Ave. of $895 on the afternoon of March 7, according to the investigation report filed in Cumberland County Unified Court. 

Although Sturton was not armed, he allegedly told the bank teller he had a gun with eight bullets and he didn’t want to hurt anybody. Sturton proceeded to lift his hand in the pocket of his jacket as if he were armed, the suspect told police.  

Bank employees called 911, and police quickly apprehended Sturton, who matched the description provided by callers. He was found in a Maine Mall parking lot, with a green squirt gun and cash. 

While being interviewed by police, Sturton allegedly admitted to the crime, saying the squirt gun was used at home to train his cats. He told police he robbed the bank because he needed money to pay his bills. He also said he does not feel like a productive member of society, and his life hasn’t “been engaged” in three or four years. 

Gross sexual assault

Jean Petit Nsabimana, 38, also of South Portland, was charged with two counts of gross sexual assault and one count of kidnapping.

The crime allegedly occurred in November 2017.

His court file is sealed because of the nature of the crime, according to a clerk at Cumberland County Unified Court.

Kidnapping and gross sexual assault are both Class A crimes, each punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

Juliette Laaka can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 106 or at jlaaka@theforecaster.net.