Thief Turned In By Sons Sentenced

A family man once regarded as a pillar of his community was sentenced to 40 years in prison Thursday for a string of bank robberies after being turned in by his own sons, who had recognized him from a surveillance photo.

U.S. District Judge Jeanne Scott issued the minimum sentence for William Alfred "Al" Ginglen, who at 64 likely will serve the rest of his life behind bars.

Ginglen, who was convicted on seven counts of armed bank robbery and two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence, also was ordered to pay $56,382 in restitution. The money he stole, authorities said, went to support a girlfriend, a crack cocaine habit and visits to prostitutes.

But before he lost two jobs in 2001 and the bank robberies began in 2003, Scott noted that Ginglen had spent the bulk of his life as a civic leader and married father of four.

"You pose a dilemma in trying to figure out what in the world happened to you," Scott said. "I, too, have struggled with that. For over 60 years of your life, you lived an exemplary life."

Given the chance to speak before receiving the sentence, Ginglen started to address the court, stopped for 90 seconds to compose himself, and then said, "I'd like to apologize to everyone."

Ginglen's double life began to unravel in August 2004, when one of his sons, Peoria police officer Jared Ginglen, recognized his father on surveillance videos posted on a law enforcement Web site.

"There are no winners here today. The whole thing has been a tragedy for my family," Jared Ginglen told The Associated Press after his father's sentencing.

But Jared Ginglen said he had no regrets about turning in his father.

"It had to be done," he said.

Ginglen's attorney, Ron Hamm, said he plans an appeal.

He said he believes evidence Jared Ginglen took from his father's house, including clothing and a diary of his father's activities, were illegally seized because the son is a police officer.

Jared Ginglen said he was off duty, out of his jurisdiction, and he went to the house to find his father and confront him, not seize evidence.