AUBURN – A Lewiston man denied charges Monday that he robbed a local credit union with his roommate.

Police say Kevin Grant, 29, and Jason Enger, 20, of Hammond Street, walked into the Great Falls Regional Credit Union with a machete on May 23, gave a teller a note demanding money, then went on a three-hour shopping spree with the stolen loot.

Grant appeared in Androscoggin County Superior Court Monday morning and pleaded innocent to robbery.

While arguing for lower bail, his lawyer told Justice Ellen Gorman that Enger is accused of wielding the machete, not Grant.

Gorman set Grant’s bail at $3,500 cash or $25,000 in surety.

Enger is scheduled to appear in court on July 25 to enter a plea. If convicted, both men face up to 40 years in jail.

The heist occurred about 9 a.m. Shortly after, witnesses in the area reported seeing two men jump into a car on Hammond Street, and police were given a description of the suspects.

About three hours later, a Lewiston officer working on an unrelated case at a local motel spotted the men getting into a taxi.

The officer followed the taxi to an apartment building on Howe Street, where he and several other officers chased the two men down, according to police.

It was discovered later that the men had been shopping at local stores following the robbery, buying jewelry, clothes, sneakers and other items, investigators said.

Police have not said how much money was taken in the heist, but they have said that the purchased items and a portion of the cash were recovered after the arrests.

lchmelecki@sunjournal.com

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