Two Dougherty siblings change pleas in Valdosta - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Two Dougherty siblings plead guilty in Valdosta

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VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) -

Two of the three Dougherty siblings will be sentenced in December for a Valdosta bank robbery that touched off a nationwide manhunt.

Lee Grace and Ryan Dougherty pleaded guilty today in a Valdosta courtroom today.

The third sibling's plea hearing was delayed.

Walking in shackles out of the Federal courthouse in Valdosta, Lee Grace Dougherty kissed Ryan Dougherty goodbye not knowing when she might see her brother again.

The two siblings pled guilty to one count of bank robbery and one count of using and carrying a firearm during the commission of a crime. Ken Klanicki was in the courtroom and says he didn't expect to see the siblings so composed.

"I was quite surprised that those two defendants were so calm, they were so reserved, they were, almost like they were maybe at church. And it is hard for me to believe that they committed those multiple crimes," said Klanicki.

The oldest Dougherty brother, Dylan was not arraigned in court today. We learned his attorney had a scheduling conflict.

Valdosta Police investigator Brian Childress says this is the most high profile case he's worked on.

"Anytime you have a bank robbery that's always a big case, but the fact that these folks came in blazing basically with their weapons, and the fact that just prior to robbing our bank they actually shot at and in my opinion tried to kill a deputy in Florida," said Childress. 

The Dougherty gang opened fire inside the Certus Bank on Norman Drive last August. They pled not guilty in May but changed their pleas today.

"Ryan Dougherty, as he said 'guilty' his voice actually broke, that was actually the only time he lost his composure," said Klanicki.

The three siblings have already been sentenced in Colorado and still face more charges in Florida. Lee and Ryan could be sentenced to 25 years for the bank robbery and ten years to life for the gun charges.

Lee Grace Dougherty and Ryan Dougherty are set to be sentenced December 17th.

Dylan Dougherty's plea hearing hasn't been rescheduled.

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