BANK ROBBERY DRIVER SENTENCED

MADISON - The man who drove the getaway car for the March 31 Helenville
bank robbery received the same 51-month sentence Wednesday in federal court
as the one imposed last week for the man who entered the bank and pointed a
replica gun at a teller.

Matthew Reller, 23, had agreed to drive Cody Shafer and Jason Hoffman, both
19, from the American National Bank in exchange for one-third of the take.
However, authorities quickly located the sedan Reller was driving and
apprehended the men, weapons, both real and fake, and $19,998 in cash
without incident.

Although Reller didn't enter the bank, the law holds any accomplice to a
crime responsible for all the consequences of the offense, and the sentence
reflects that, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita Rumbelow said after court.

Reller, like Shafer, admitted to ongoing drug abuse before planning the
robbery after a night of binge drinking. Reller began drinking alcohol at
17 and then using marijuana, escalating to several times a day just prior
to the robbery, said District Judge John Shabaz.

Ordinance convictions for operating while Intoxicated and possession of
marijuana in June and November 2003 didn't stop Reller from substance
abuse, said Shabaz, who impose a sentence near the bottom of the federal
guideline range.

"The pre-sentence report doesn't link drug abuse (to the crime), but you
never sought treatment, never complained about anything, there's no reason
offered for committing this crime," Shabaz told Reller.

Reller didn't offer a motive either but told Shabaz that he has regretted
the robbery daily and apologized to the tellers.

Reller had graduated in 2000 from McFarland High School, attended the
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Madison Area Technical College.

Reller's attorney Marcus Berghahn said that drug abuse was the only
rationale for the crime as his client came from an affectionate and caring
family.

"Once his marijuana addiction is addressed he won't be a potential problem
to re-offend," Berghahn said.

After scouting the roads in the Helenville area, Reller refused Shafer's
request to enter the bank. While wearing ski masks, Shafer and Hoffman,
brandished realistic-looking firearms inside the bank and demanded money
from the tellers.

Reller was the first of the three co-defendants to plead guilty to armed
bank robbery. Shafer, of Cambridge, was sentenced on Friday to 51 months in
prison. Sentencing for Hoffman, of Lake Mills, is scheduled for Wednesday.