Robbery suspect sought bail money

BILLINGS — A woman charged with robbing or trying to rob five Billings-area casinos was trying to raise bail money for a man who was jailed on numerous charges, prosecutors in Yellowstone County said.

Karen Kay Damron, 41, is charged with three counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery for a string of casino heists over a 24-hour period ending early on Oct. 19. She was arrested later that day. Officials did not say how much cash she received.

Damron made an initial appearance in Justice Court Tuesday where Justice of the Peace Larry Herman set her bail at $65,000.

A prosecutor said that Damron was trying to raise bail money for James Vincent Cracraft, 22. He was arrested on Oct. 18 after the owner of a stolen vehicle spotted it in a store parking lot in Billings and confronted Cracraft. Cracraft fired a shot and ran away, police said. His bail was set at $75,000 for the criminal endangerment charge.

Six days earlier, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper had tried to stop a pickup reported stolen in Great Falls. Cracraft was the suspected driver.

The trooper was aware that the pickup had been involved in several high-speed pursuits in Billings and that Cracraft was likely the driver, court records said.

Charging documents say Cracraft acknowledged stealing the pickup and said he was high on drugs during one police chase. Jail records do not indicate any charges regarding the vehicle thefts.