Groom allegedly robs bank to pay for wedding, ring

A Texas man who robbed a bank a day before his wedding turned himself in after his fiancée saw he was wanted, authorities said.

Heath Edward Bumpous, 30, from Crockett, Texas, faces a felony aggravated robbery charge after he allegedly told bank tellers he had a gun and robbed Citizens State Bank in Groveton on Friday.

Bumpous peeled out on dirt and service roads, throwing some of the clothes he was wearing out the window, Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace said.

“After leaving the bank, he went straight to the wedding venue and paid the bill,” Wallace told USA TODAY.

Bumpous’ fiancée saw on Facebook that the sheriff ’ s office had posted her betrothed’s photo and texted him, asking if he had robbed a bank, Wallace said.

Bumpous’ fiancée convinced him to turn himself in, and he went to the courthouse in neighboring Houston County, Wallace said.

Interviewed by sheriff ’ s officials, Bumpous admitted to the robbery and said he needed the money for a ring and the venue, Wallace said.

“So apparently, that’s what the money was for – for us to pay for him to get married tomorrow,” Wallace said in a video posted on Facebook.

Most of the money was recovered, and Wallace said it totaled no more than $ 10,000. Authorities recovered a loaded handgun from Bumpous’ car, though he did not show the gun during the robbery, according to an arrest report.

Bumpous remained in custody Monday morning and could face up to 99 years in prison if convicted, Wallace said.

“This whole thing is just crazy,” Wallace told USA TODAY. He said he’d never seen someone rob a bank with no attempt to cover his identity. “Clearly, he wasn’t thinking.”

As for the wedding, it did not happen over the weekend, Wallace said.

TRINITY COUNTY SHERIFF Authorities say a Texas man robbed a bank the day before his wedding.