PEABODY — A Somerville man was sent to state prison for three to five years this week after pleading guilty to robbing a Sovereign Bank on the Peabody/Danvers line last June — but not before making sure that all charges against the man who drove him away from the bank were going to be dropped.
Jesse Descavich, 29, went into the bank branch on Route 114 on the afternoon of June 29 with a note that read in part: "Give me all the money. No (expletive) dye packs. This isn't a (expletive) joke," according to police reports. A teller handed him $1,000, and Descavich fled across the parking lot to a Dodge Ram pickup truck parked near another business in the shopping plaza.
At the wheel was Kolten Berg, 28, also of Somerville. The men were arrested a short time later on Route 1.
Both men were charged with the holdup under a theory of "joint venture." But a few months ago, Descavich provided a written statement saying Berg had no idea Descavich was going to hold up the bank and was not involved in any way. Berg simply thought he was giving Descavich a ride.
After Descavich pleaded guilty during a hearing in Salem Superior Court Tuesday afternoon, prosecutor Jessica Connors filed the formal paperwork dropping the charges against Berg.
Descavich will be on probation for two years after he completes his prison term and will be required to take part in mental health counseling, according to court records.
