CINCINNATI -- The man accused of robbing Pleasant Ridge Chili at gunpoint had bond set at $500,000 in court Thursday morning after his lawyer said he has a history of mental illness.
"It was not an operable gun. It was a BB gun, but whatever bond you give I'm going to be OK with because I think he needs mental treatment," said 20-year-old Christopher Binford's attorney Clyde Bennett.
Binford stands charged with aggravated robbery in connection with the Monday afternoon crime, which was captured on security cameras inside the popular cash-only restaurant.
Police said -- and video showed -- the robber held a waitress at gunpoint Monday afternoon and demanded cash from the restaurant's register. The judge described Binford's alleged crime as particularly "cold and callous" in court.
After asking the public for help identifying the man in question, Cincinnati police said they confirmed the suspect was Binford and found the gun used in the robbery inside Binford's apartment on Wednesday.
Bennett told the judge that Binford has no felony record but he has a history of bipolar disorder and some other medical issues "that may have precluded his ability to know the rightfulness of his conduct."
Binford is due back in court on Sept. 11.
