Great update, Erin!

Great story, Erin. Thanks!

Welcome Home Captain

Thank you for the update! So great to have him back!

really? Armed robbery and he only gets 6 months in jail?

What a heart warming story NOT. Isn't robbing a bank (2 banks to boot) a federal offense? 4 years probation REALLY!!! wonder who he knows? Who isn't going through hard times? What a cop out of an excuse.

Wow, no wonder we are seeing a rise in robberies and break-ins, guy basically gets a slap on the wrist for robbing 2 banks. These scumbags know even if they do get caught nothing is going to really happen to them.

you know what "grew up in dormont" ..i say... Really to you..you need to live up to your name..and GROW UP..Can't someone make a mistake in your world and try to make it right? Can't someone recognize they need help & get it and try to grow into that knoweledge in your world? Can't Someone admitt they made a huge mistake and try the best he can to make it right in your world?.....Well in the real world we give people second chances and i'm so happy to see that Captain has his...Go for it ....Great to see you doing so well..Just keep on the path your on and all will be good ;p

We can't condone what he did, but it does take a lot of guts to stand up and apologize to the community for embarrassing it. Hopefully he is able to give back to Dormont in a way that would atone for his crimes more than probation or jailtime ever could.

How does robbing banks get such a low level penalty? This makes absolutely no sense!

He probably had no priors and behaved himself during his 7 months in the can . He IS on PROBATION for 4 years. That's a lot of probation time . He can't mess up at all or he goes back to jail ... WELCOME BACK CAPTAIN. The show must go on !

Really Cassie a mistake is blocking a driveway robbing two banks is a federal CRIME. Regardless of how hard he tries he is alway going to be know as the guy who robbed two banks.
@ Caleb I agree with you he robbed two banks made threats he does 7 months in jail and get 4 years probation what is wrong with the justice system? That's exactly what he got a slap on the wrist. What a shame.
That's great that he wants to give back to the community how is anyone supposed to trust him he is a criminal that robbed two banks and basically got away with it.

he has been deemed ok to release. get over it . mind your own business .

When you commit a CRIME and it is in the papers and on the news it becomes everyone business. Just because he has been deemed ok to be released does not mean that he did not commit the CRIME.

First of all Caleb, captain is not a scumbag! He is a great father and a great husband to my grandsons and daughter. you have no right to judge a person .....and all you negative people who havent been through hard times and don't
know all the facts, keep your hateful opinions to yourself. Whats wrong in giving anyone a second chance?

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Who hasn't been through hard times? Doesn't mean we are all going to run out and rob banks. Know all the fact I am pretty sure there were other means available to help get throught the hard times? The last time I checked this was called LIFE. Put on your big boy pants and deal with it. What's going to happen the next time a difficult personal situation comes up or he loses focus again? Or he makes another major mistake? Robbing two banks is a CRIME not a MISTAKE.

Does seem like a rather light sentence. I don't think he would be allowed to handle money for any sort of fundraisers etc, that could be a probation violation I think. He's lucky he has his own business though, because if he were to have to look for a job, I have a feeling he'd be S-O-L

@ Bob Dobbs I have never patronized Dormont Dogs nor would I now. I do not live a paranoid fearful Dormont life. What kind of statement is that? Like I stated earlier when you commit a CRIME and it is put out there for the public it then becomes EVERYONES business.

Guys—I've caught and deleted a few comments that violate the terms of use. As a reminder, it's a violation of those terms to submit a comment that contains swear words, personal insults/attacks, offensive or inappropriate language. Comments don't have to be 100% positive, but they do have to follow the terms. Thanks!

how sad that people are complaining about his sentence. he is not a threat to any one of you, which is why he is not in prison, obviously. the people running the banks are the real criminals. " give a man a gun, he can rob a bank, give a man a bank, he can rob the world" ever heard that? makes sense. besides, he didn't even have a gun. it's not like he robbed a little old lady of her savings. you priggish types sound awful foolish to me. i feel sorry for you and your narrow little minds. by the way, dormont dogs is one of my favorite places to eat. i love supporting local businesses.

OK way to shift the blame he commits the crime robs the banks and the banks are the criminals. Thats just priceless. Weather he had a gun or not is besides the point the point is that he robbed the banks. The last time that I checked that was considered a CRIME. Yes people are complaining about his sentence that is just ridicilious he robbed two banks and made threats against people. You see nothing wrong with that? Maybe you should feel sorry for yoursels and you narrow mind he committed a federal CRIME and you seem to be ok with that?

Amanda was he a threat to the tellers when he said he would harm them and he knew where they lived or what about the ones in brookline that he had at gunpoint and said there was a bomb. I am guessing they were just being foolish if they felt threatened.

I agree Caleb people are forgetting or not realizing that he was the one threatening these innocient people they did nothing to him. They were just trying to do there jobs. People seem to think that this kind of behavior is ok.

So I see two separate issues here. The first is the sentence, which appears fairly short-I wonder what the average is. I guess we must respect the courts though we have a right to question them. The second is the tone of the article. Not a knock on the reporter, but as you read it, it feels like this guy has overcome cancer or just escaped from 6 months in a mine. He is a felon, and would have probably kept robbing if he had not been caught. He was only sorry after he was taken from society into prison. Sending cArds to the wife? Do they make sympathy cards for "Sorry your husband robbed people and now you have to be a single mom for a while.". I'm sure he has done some good things, but he is far from a good guy and has much to prove before people say so. I hope people don't patronize this place.

Unless you were there in the courtroom, you really can't say anything about his sentence. He has served his time inside, he's been released, and now he's continuing to serve his time outside, get over it. It's a shame that people can't make mistakes (even big ones) and get a second chance on the eyes of the public. Examine your own lives before judging others.

He should get a second chance, Rachel. But your moral relativism doesn't work here. I'll bet that of the vast majority of posts on here, the posters have not committed felonies. Captain has and we absolutely have a right to make judgement on him. I can't think of any action I've done, and I've done some crappy things, that are as bad as robbery.

When you take that kind of jobdealing with money and the public, you know the risk involved. The guy that robbed my store it's out now too. I don't live in fear of him. He did something stupid, he appeared in court, he served his time, and now he's out. I don't know what he's doing now because he doesn't own a business here, he wasn't well known in the area. Captain is trying to do what that man gets to do, give him a second chance to make you some wicked awesome hot dogs and to support his family properly. None of us are perfect.

Sorry, I dont think anyone has the right to judge him without walking a mile in his shoes. None of you could be any more critical of him than he could be being of himself. He ACTUALLY is the one that has to live with what he's done, not any of us. At least your mistakes aren't shoved in your face every single day by the judgmental public.

I find it humorous that someone getting released from jail on a felony is reason to celebrate. Stay classy Dormont!

Wow, Rachel, trying to make excuses? A minimum wage teller is taking a risk so that's ok that he/she gets robbed? No ones perfect, we get it. But most of us DON'T ROB BANKS! Comparing my day to day mistakes to TWO felonious bank robberies is like comparing a school kid who gets into a scrap with mob enforcer. That was a bad, premeditated choice, not some little peccadillo, stop trying to pretend its shoplifting.

a mob enforcer is worse than a bank robber.

So wait, are the owners still married?

Rachel, c'mon. you are trying to WAY understate this. I'm sending this story to KDKA radio, hopefully one of those talk guys will take this on.

Having a gun in my face is not shoplifting. There ya go making assumptions again. And it's not an excuse, it's the way the world is. You KNOW it's possible when you take that job that it's a possible risk. Period. If you don't, it's delusional.

Yup he committed a crime. A federal crime. 1st time offender. Stayed clean in jail and is now on 4 years probation. He made a mistake. And so far it seems he is paying for it. This will stay on his record forever.

Remember, those who live in glass houses ..........

again, no gun/weapons were used in this particular situation . he'd still be in jail if it had been otherwise .

I can't say I support the aggressive tone of some of the posts, however I have to admit I'm curious about this sentence. It is light. Bank robbery is a federal crime with a minimum sentence of 10 years per count. Reading the report, it appears the sentence was delivered by Allegheny County...this suggests they elected (or forgot) to not turn the case over to the Feds. I don't know this man, but I would say he the luckiest man on earth.

He has to live with what he has done because he is the one that committed the crime. None of us forced him to make that decision to do what he did. People keep saying he made a mistake he did not make a mistake he committed a crime there is a big difference between the two a mistake is forgetting to let the dog in. A crime is when you threaten people, take things that don't belong to you etc....
@ James Mary I agree with you he would probably still be robbing had he of not been caught. He wants to give back to the community he should of been doing that all along it should not of had to come to this for him to proove himself as a good person. What is done is done people are going to think and feel how they want about the situation. None of us are perfect and I can bet that most of the people posting on here have not committed a crime(s) as serious as this?

So like if I get a DUI, and then after however long they take your license for they give me back my license - can you run a story about RM in Dormont who can now drive his truck again because his suspension is over?

And yes, of course I am not getting a dui, I need my truck to make money and would never risk loosing my ability to drive by drinking and driving. I am just making up an example

Wow, I don't even know where to start with all these comments... First off, Erin... great write up.

I'm glad the Captain is out & back to work!

So, if someone commits a crime and serves the prescribed sentence for it... we're supposed to treat them like $#!+ forever afterward? Ridiculous. He's remorseful and trying to make amends. None of you are willing to give the man a chance?

Well, I sure as hell am.

I know a few people who have served time, been released, and are model citizens.
He has served his time in the eyes of the law, who are you to mete out any further punishment?

As far as comments on Rachel & Captain's marriage, that's frankly none of your, my, or anyone's business. Truth be told, I for one am in awe that two people who made the commitment of marriage to each other honored their vows through an incredibly difficult time.

If you don't want to support the business, don't. I will, plenty of others will, and over time there will be even more supporters. I stand behind the Captain, Rachel, and their family and believe in his pledge to give back & become even more involved in the community.

Seems like more than a few here know this guy, and the rest have never met him and don't want to. I think he was desperate for money and did some crimes.

But Our Justice system, set up to punish, to reform, and allow convicts back into society, has seen fit to sentence, and release him on probation. If you think it is light, call a judge. Call the parole board. The stigma will follow him until his death.

My wife and I went back again and again to get "Customer" pics on the wall. He served his time. People picking on him are cut from the same cloth as people that spit on veterans because of raw prejudice.

No one here is a perfect soul. I did not serve in Viet Nam, I served in the Persian Gulf. Yet I have met prejudice from supposedly "Educated" college & Masters students, who thought that service in the military was "for losers who can't make it in the real world".

There are those who refuse to give a VETERAN a chance. They are afraid he or she will flip out from PTSD, go random, shoot up a mall, beat up the spouse. Many are homeless. Most want a chance to come back after they did their time. Some of them realize they simply can't, becase they are not given the chance by those who will never understand. Prejudice.

Erin, thanks for writing this report, and politely policing the crowd.

I'm going over to get a hot dog. There it is.

Wow! Must be nice to rob not one, but two banks and only get four years of probation!

Outside of a temporary lapse in judgement, Captain is a good guy and an excellent/talented chef/food creator . Stop the hating . If he robs more banks, then you angry finger pointers will have a case. If he messes up in the next 4 years, he'll get thrown back in the slammer . End of story . You're no better than he .

jail isnt a cure-all for people who do wrong . it in fact usually makes them worse/ more criminally-minded. jails are full of too many non-violent offenders. in many cases they don't need to be there .

So much hate from people who don't even know Captain. It really bothers me that people see fit to make assumptions about a human being they have never even set eyes upon. Not one of you who are judging have any right to do so. Have your lives been so perfect and by the law? Most of you who are talking in uninformed circles, have no idea if what truly happened. You know absolutely NOTHING concerning the true facts of the backstory. So... Before opening your mouths, or putting fingers to keyboard, think... Simply think. Have hearts, have compassion, and try to understand the other persons side. You might be surprised to find out you my have done the same as the guy you are judging. Captain may not be a saint, as none of us are, but I have NEVER seen him judge anyone with the hatred some of you are spewing. Just think about that.

Comparing PNC, to a private sector local small business is absurd- to whoever jumped all over the florist... As a small business owner, I understand how desperation can arise when you have thrown all your eggs in one basket and the pressure is on in a sink or swim situation, too. I've entertained some extreme ideas myself when the bills are due, the jobs aren't coming in, and everyone wants their payola. Bottom line is, Captain's a good, honest, working class, American individual, and he screwed up big under the pressures of it all. Give the cat a second chance; the courts did, and youre not qualified to make those judgements. "personal issues" isn't a cop out excuse, it's a way to state in a public forum his apology, without airing whatever details are involved that may or may not maybe be embarrassing to his family, and frankly isn't anyones' business but his, his family's, and the courts. Captain and Rachel are amazing, and good people, and I've never had a better veggie dog! Dormont Dogs is a small business, in a small community, in a smallish city, try not to have a small mind and a narrow view, & accept his sincere attempts to make things right. They deserve it. I swear by that statement, and support their family business and efforts with absolutely no reservations whatsoever. Glad you're back, Captain! And Rachel rocks. nuff said.

And I have been robbed before too, before anyone gets all sanctimonious and ridin in on their m moral high horse... While working CoGos in upper Mount Wash (go figure! Hahaha). Anyway, don't be so quick to judge until youve walked in a mans shoes. People all jumpin in the Koolade before they even know what flavour it is, n at.

Also, I'd be proud to see my son in a Bad News Bears uniform w Dormont Dogs on the back... Beats Chico's Bail Bonds any day! Haha... Peace!

P ps- drug addiction is not a crime according to ANY law I've ever heard, btw. Possession is, p possession w intent to distribute, etc..
These are crimes in the eyes of the law... Addiction is not a crime. Just sayin.

Captain is a good guy and was very shocked when I read about the robberies. But the man has done his time and will have label of bank robber attached to his name by a unforgiving public forever. How many of you are walking around or taking T because of a revoked license for DUI or worse? Do you want that label for life? Or be allowed a second chance?
Best chili in Pgh btw.

This is ridiculous! We most certainly are living in a society that has lost its' mind. This person regardless of where they live should be in prison. How stupid we've become!

@ Bob Dobbs I would be willing to bet that most of the people posting here are better than him? We have not robbed two banks!!
@ Jacqueline I agree with you something is very wrong with the justice system.

"@ Bob Dobbs I would be willing to bet that most of the people posting here are better than him? We have not robbed two banks!!"

WOW! Making a statement like this proves how false this statement is.