A bank robber who was given the nickname of the “Ugly Plaid Bandit” because tellers noticed his garish plaid shirts pleaded guilty Oct. 23 to robbing two tellers at a La Jolla bank and six other banks elsewhere. John Edward Roberts, 47, will face a prison term ranging from 25 to 35 years, said Deputy District Attorney Allison Batstone. San Diego Superior Court Judge Jeff Fraser set sentencing for Dec. 15. Roberts admitted to robbing two bank employees at the San Diego National Bank, 4270 Executive Square, on Dec. 15, 2007. Yesica Lazaro testified at the March 24 preliminary hearing that Roberts wore a plaid shirt and demanded money from her. Taylor Ann Bowne, who testified the robber took $500 from her, said she noticed his plaid shirt. The tellers testified Roberts robbed them both of approximately $1,300 total. “He seemed nervous and shaky,” Lazaro said. The series netted the robber $12,523, according to testimony. Roberts pleaded guilty to holding up two banks at Grossmont Center, another in Hillcrest, a credit union in Clairemont and two other banks in La Mesa and Carmel Valley. FBI Special Agent David Eaton testified they never recovered any of the plaid shirts from his El Cajon motel room, as Roberts told him “he threw (them) away at one point.” Roberts identified himself on bank camera shots as the robber in the series, Eaton said. “He told us he spent it on drugs right away (and) didn’t keep much money at any time,” Eaton said. The prosecutor said Roberts had previously been convicted of seven bank robberies. He is a third-striker, and faced 37 years on each count had he gone to trial. The plea agreement is with the judge, not the D.A.’s office. Fraser told him he would sentence him to 25 to 35 years. Roberts was arrested Dec. 24, and remains in the central downtown jail without bail.