Trial set for accused bank robber from Port Townsend

TACOMA — Michael J. Fenter, a Port Townsend boat builder and farmer accused of robbing a bank, will face trial beginning Feb. 2 in U.S. District Court in Tacoma.

Fenter, 40, is accused of robbing $73,000 from a Bank of America branch in Tacoma armed with a .40-caliber Glock handgun in October.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges of armed bank robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Fenter remains in custody at the federal detention center in SeaTac without a posted bail.

The FBI is investigating Fenter, who had no criminal record at the time of his arrest, for bank robberies this year in Seattle, Sacramento, San Francisco and Tacoma.

He has not been charged with those robberies.

He is not being investigated for bank robberies on the North Olympic Peninsula, the FBI said.

The trial was originally scheduled to begin earlier this week.

Both the prosecution and defense requested the trial date be moved while the FBI continues to investigate.

Before he was taken into custody on Oct. 8, Fenter lived on the 40-acre Compass Rose Farms near Port Townsend with his wife, Kateen Fenter, and their three children and his in-laws.

The family raised wool, honey and produce sold at local farmers markets.

The farm is owned by Kateen Fenter and her mother.

A graduate of the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Port Townsend, Michael Fenter, working in his field of marine carpentry, paid the bills and the mortgage on the land that the couple bought in 2007, his wife said.

More in News

Ned Hammar, left, is sworn in as Port Angeles School District Position 2 director by Clallam County Superior Court Judge Simon Barnhart on Thursday as Superintendent Michelle Olsen looks on. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Hammar, Hamilton sworn in to PASD board of directors

Major foundation work complete on Hurricane Ridge Middle School

Port Townsend plan may bump housing stock

Citizens concerned it may not be affordable

Port of Port Townsend reports strong revenues

Staffing changes, job vacancies contribute to net gain, official says

x
Grant funds help teen meal program at clubs

Boys, girls learning how to prepare nutritious dinners

EYE ON THE PENINSULA: Budget planning set for boards, commissions

Meetings across the North Olympic Peninsula

Donna Bower, left, and Kristine Konapaski, volunteers from the Michael Trebert Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, unload one of the 115 boxes of Christmas wreaths and carry it to a waiting truck. (Dave Logan/For Peninsula Daily News)
Wreaths arrive for veterans

Donna Bower, left, and Kristine Konapaski, volunteers from the Michael Trebert Chapter… Continue reading

Coalition working to expand system

Anderson Lake section of ODT to open in ’26

Jefferson PUD cost of service study suggests increases

Biggest impact would be on sewer customers

Remains in shoe determined to belong to a bear

A shoe found earlier this week on the beach at… Continue reading

Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue personnel fight a residential structure fire in the 2000 Block of Dan Kelly Road on Wednesday. (Clallam 2 Fire Rescue)
Fire districts respond to structure fire on Dan Kelly Road

A home suffered significant damage to its roof following… Continue reading

Military accepting public comment on environmental impact statement

The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard are accepting public… Continue reading

Patrick Zolpi-Mikols, a park aide with Fort Worden State Park, gathers and removes leaves covering the storm drains after an atmospheric river rainstorm early Wednesday morning in Port Townsend. A flood warning was issued by the National Weather Service until 11:11 a.m. today for the Elwha River at the McDonald Bridge in Clallam County. With the flood stage at 20 feet, the Elwha River was projected to rise to 23.3 feet late Wednesday afternoon and then fall below flood stage just after midnight. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Cleaning storm drains

Patrick Zolpi-Mikols, a park aide with Fort Worden State Park, gathers and… Continue reading