'Bearded Bandit' Seen in Court, Enters Plea

OAKLAND, CA- The suspect known as the ‘Bearded Bandit’ was seen in court Thursday, allegedly confessing guilt to 11 Northern California bank robberies over the past two months, according to the Contra Costa Times.

The Contra Costa Times reports, Kenneth Michael Ellis, 30, of Stockton, allegedly told investigators that he stole the $27,000 to pay off bills and that he shopped at Goodwill for clothes to wear during the robberies.

The Times also reported that Ellis is the owner of a video game store in Modesto called Battleground Games and was a competitor in a "Magic: The Gathering" Pro Tour.

Ellis was arrested March 24 when he was allegedly recognized buying razors in a Brentwood CVS store.

No weapons were used in the robberies, according to the Times, and documents from the Concord Wells Fargo robbery stated that Ellis allegedly presented a note that read, "No die (sic) packs, no silent alarms, no tracking devices, this is a robbery, keep quiet." A similar note was used in other robberies.

For more on the 'Bearded Bandit', also see:

• Suspected 'Bearded Bandit' to Appear in Federal Court
• BREAKING: 'Bearded Bandit' Suspect Arrested in East Bay, Caught Shaving
• Bearded Bank Robber Wanted For Hitting 15 Banks Throughout Northern California
• Bearded Bandit Strikes Twice in East Bay
• Bearded Bandit Robs East Bay Banks Monday
• Bearded Bandit Robs Lafayette Bank Monday
• U.S. Bank in Dublin Robbed by Bearded Bandit Tuesday
• Tri-Valley Bank Robbed Thursday

Photos courtesy Concord Police Facebook page