Patrick R. Acierno, 34, is charged with robbery, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, all felonies. The charges stem from the Sept. 12 robbery of the PNC Bank branch on Route 19 near North Boundary Road.

CRANBERRY TWP — A Freedom man arrested following a bank robbery Tuesday in McCandless is now facing charges for another bank robbery in Cranberry Township last September.

Patrick R. Acierno, 34, is charged with robbery, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, all felonies. The charges stem from the Sept. 12 robbery of the PNC Bank branch on Route 19 near North Boundary Road.

During that incident, a man entered the bank at 10:22 a.m. that morning and demanded money from the teller. He then left on foot and was last seen running through the wooded area surrounding the bank. No weapon was displayed during the incident, police said at the time.

On Tuesday, Acierno was arrested after allegedly robbing the Key Bank on Harmony Drive in McCandless. Police said he entered and demanded money, and although he did not show a weapon, he said that he had one. He left the scene and was later arrested after being spotted on Interstate 79.

He is charged with felony robbery and receiving stolen property and misdemeanor fleeing or attempting to elude police. He is being held on $250,000 monetary bond pending a March 13 preliminary hearing.

According to Cranberry police Sgt. Chuck Mascellino, Acierno allegedly admitted to police on Tuesday that he was responsible for the September robbery in the township. He has not yet been arraigned on those charges, although Mascellino said that could happen within the next day.

This is a breaking news item — pick up Thursday's Butler Eagle for an update story.