A Christiansburg woman who robbed a Fairlawn bank earlier this year immediately used most of the money she stole to make a house payment and buy groceries, it was revealed at a hearing Monday in Pulaski County Circuit Court.

Stephanie Durelle Bermudez, 32, pleaded guilty in October to one count of bank robbery.

She was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison, with all but three years suspended. She was also ordered to 10 years of probation upon her release.

Bermudez went inside the Bank of America in the 7300 block of Peppers Ferry Boulevard the afternoon of April 9 and handed a teller a threatening note.

Bermudez testified at her sentencing hearing Monday, Pulaski County Commonwealth's Attorney Mike Fleenor said.

Although the note she took into the bank indicated she had a gun, she didn't, Fleenor said.

She left the bank with about $5,200, he said.

About $3,000 of that was used to make a house payment, he said. About $800 was recovered.

Bermudez was ordered to pay back the remaining amount.

-- Shawna Morrison