A Scottsbluff man charged with robbing a Scottsbluff bank and with a fraud scheme involving bank ATM cards has been found competent to stand trial in Scotts Bluff County District Court in both cases. 42-year old Michael Scott remains in custody on $750,000 bail.

Since Scott’s cases are separate with two different district court judges, a unique joint competency hearing was held Monday involving both judges…Leo Dobrovolny and Randy Lippstreu. The only evidence was a psychiatric evaluation submitted by Scott’s court appointed attorney, Bernard Straetker.

Judge Dobrovolny went first, saying he had reviewed the evaluation and, citing similar case law as precedent, declared Scott competent to stand trial in the theft by deception case. Alleged losses in that case total more than $8,000.

Judge Lippstreu then issued his decision, also declaring Scott competent to stand trial in the bank robbery case…which involved a branch of the Valley Bank.

Dobrovolny set a pre-trial hearing in the ATM case for April 25th with trial during the May 6th jury term. Lippstreau set a pre-trial hearing in the robbery case for March 21st with the trial in the April 1st jury term.