Indiana judge enters not guilty plea for man accused of robbing clerk after praying with her

Not guilty plea entered for praying theft suspect

INDIANAPOLIS — A judge has entered a not guilty plea for a man accused of robbing an Indianapolis check-cashing business after hugging and praying with a clerk.

Twenty-three-year-old Gregory Smith apologized on television last week for the robbery and says he was driven to it after losing his job. Defense attorney Jack Crawford says it’s too early to negotiate a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Smith appeared in a Marion County court on Tuesday on charges of robbery, criminal confinement, pointing a firearm and carrying a handgun without a license. He is charged in two robberies this month.

Smith appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” after a security video showing a gunman praying with clerk Angela Montez during the Oct. 19 robbery was widely shown on television and the Internet.