AURORA | A former music teacher arrested on bank robbery charges last summer after a bizarre traffic stop in Aurora has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors, according to court records.
Christian Paetsch’s lawyer filed a motion in federal court early this month saying Paetsch had reached a “conditional plea agreement” with prosecutors. The motion didn’t specify what the terms of the deal are.
A judge on Monday scheduled a “change of plea hearing” for Paetsch on Jan. 24 and cancelled Paetsch’s Dec. 3 trial date.
If convicted of bank robbery, Paetsch could face between seven and 25 years in federal court.
Federal prosecutors said Paetsch, an accomplished violist who taught music at several tea schools, robbed the Wells Fargo Bank at East Hampden Avenue and South Chambers Road on June 2, a day after a banker there refused to renegotiate his loan. Police arrested him after stopping 25 cars and detaining dozens at East Iliff Avenue and South Buckley Road.
The traffic stop sparked a firestorm from critics who said police violated the rights of innocent motorists by ordering them out their cars at gunpoint at a busy intersection. Court documents said police stopped the cars because a GPS tracker in showed the robber was in one of the cars.
Paetsch’s lawyer argued that because the stop was unconstitutional, the bulk of the evidence against Paetsch — including money stolen from the bank, a disguise and two pistols — should be tossed. But a judge sided with police and prosecutors and said that while the stop was out of the ordinary, police acted appropriately.
The police still haven’t been held accountable for the gross violation of Aurora citizens 4th amendment rights. It is not worth giving up our rights to stop one measly criminal. Whats to stop them from searching every home on the street because they suspect “criminal activity”. I greatly respect the police, but they took an oath to uphold and defend the constitution. A very similar oath that military members take.