Suspected 'AK-47 Bandit' Pleads Not Guilty In Nebraska

LEXINGTON, NE — A Montana man suspected of being the "AK-47 bandit" in slew of bank robberies pleaded not guilty to unrelated gun and theft charges in Nebraska.

FBI officials say Richard Gathercole, 39, is suspected in six bank robberies and another attempted bank robbery spanning California, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska and Washington.

Gathercole entered the pleas Monday in Dawson County District Court to two counts of possessing stolen firearms and one of theft or receiving stolen property, court records said. A trial date of Aug. 12 was scheduled. (For more Across Nebraska news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Gathercole, of Roundup, Montana, was indicted July 6 in Seattle, accused of using an AK-47 rifle to steal $15,000 in North Bend, Washington, in 2012. San Bernardino County, California, officials have said they intend to charge him with attempted murder of a peace officer for the 2012 shooting of a Chino police officer during a bank robbery.

Court documents filed earlier this month said FBI agents seized bomb-making materials, seven guns and ammunition from Gathercole's home. Agents also said they found sheriff's badges and patches, a sheriff's vest, an ammunition vest, a military-style helmet, an organic chemistry book and material to make identification badges.

Nebraska court documents say Gathercole was arrested June 20 at a gas station near Lexington, Nebraska. A sheriff's deputy had spotted a pickup truck there that Kansas authorities had reported stolen by a man who'd fired at but missed a state trooper.

Dawson County officials said Gathercole is in custody at the county jail in Lexington, which is 198 miles (319 kilometers) west-southwest of Omaha.

Photo credit: FBI via AP