Teller's robbery testimony disputed

When a Carson City bank teller testified Thursday that a robber pointed a gun at her, the defendant blurted out a denial.

"I didn't point it at her," Paul Pasillas said in Carson City Justice Court.

The judge then admonished Public Defender Steven McGuire to keep his client quiet.

Pasillas, 46, has been in custody since his arrest March 10, a half-hour after he allegedly walked into First National Bank of Nevada at Carson and William streets, brandished what police later discovered was a pellet gun and demanded money.

Part-time teller Janet Neely, who identified Pasillas in court as the robber, said she noticed him as he approached her window wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

"He came up to my window, placed a black canvas bag flat on the counter, and reached in and pulled out a gun and pointed it at me," she recalled.

Pasillas then said, "Give me your money," she testified.

"That upset me and my heart was beating really fast, but I opened my drawer," she said.

Once she handed Pasillas the money, Neely said, he placed it in the bag and left the bank through a rear door.

In all, the exchange lasted less than five minutes, she said. "He seemed very calm."

Police later drove Neely past Pasillas as he stood on the street in front of Barb's Y Not Saloon, where he had been found sitting at the bar. She testified she was unable to identify him because he no longer wore the hat and glasses. She admitted she could only say he was similar in size and age to the man who robbed her.

Neely was the only witness to take the stand during the hearing Thursday, which began and 4 p.m. and was cut short 45 minutes later.

Another bank teller, who was expected to testify she followed Pasillas into an adjoining neighborhood, was excluded from doing so because she was in the courtroom during Neely's testimony.

"This doesn't affect anything," Chief Deputy District Attorney Anne Langer said following the brief hearing. "She was just back-up."

She said it also doesn't exclude the woman from testifying at a trial if Pasillas is bound over on a charge of robbery with a deadly weapon.

Testimony in the hearing will continue April 23.

Contact F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.