Bank Robber Sentenced To 8 Years In Prison

Alex Harper was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday morning for robbing the First National Bank in Mentor.

Federal Court Judge Solomon Oliver also ordered Harper to pay $4,673 in restitution to the bank.

Harper, 27, of Richmond Heights, .

Prosecutors say Harper gave the bank teller a note, demanding money, and then fled. Police arrested him after a lengthy car and foot chase through Mentor, Willoughby, Wickliffe and Euclid.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Mentor Police Department.

 of robbing five banks in 2005, including the First National Bank in Mentor.

In each case, Harper would enter the bank with a note, warning the teller that he had a weapon and demanding money.

At the time, Harper was 21 years old. He told authorities that he robbed banks to support his 4-year-old son that was born out of wedlock when he was 17. A federal judge sentenced Harper to 57 months in prison.