Cleophas Kevin Kirksey, aged 57, has been sentenced to 11 years in jail on account of robbing a Wells Fargo Bank in Daly City, overruling the district attorney's objections to the dismissal of his preceding felony strike convictions. In a noteworthy development, the judge dismissed all five of his past convictions related to bank robberies, as stated by the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.

Cleophas Kevin Kirksey (57) sentenced to 11 years in prison for robbing Wells Fargo Bank, identified in bank surveillance by his Federal Probation Officer. Over DA objection, the judge dismissed his 5 prior felony strike convictions, all for bank robbery. pic.twitter.com/XERz1T3TxL

— San Mateo County District Attorney (@SanMateoCoDA) October 11, 2023

The incident transpired on February 10 at a Lucky Supermarkets store on Mission Street. According to reports, Kirksey handed a note to a teller, demanding large denomination bills and specifically instructing her to avoid handing him $20 bills. Having acquired bunches of $50 and $100 bills, he departed the scene hastily. 

A resident of San Pablo, Kirksey, was under federal felony probation at the time of the robbery. The probation officer was able to recognize him from the bank surveillance footage due to their previous encounters. He was apprehended at his residence on February 15, where stacks of $50 and $100 bills and the clothing he allegedly wore during the robbery were found, via CBS News.

During his initial court attendance on March 3, Kirksey pleaded not guilty to robbery and burglary charges and was ordered held on a $1 million bail. The dismissal of his prior felony strike convictions, which could have escalated his sentencing, casts doubt over the judicial system's management of recurrent offenders.