Topeka ? A 29-year-old man has pleaded guilty to robbing five financial institutions during a four-month period, including the January armed robbery of Midwest Regional Credit Union in Lawrence.

Quentin Wayne Kivitter would face no less than 17 years in prison, according to a plea agreement between prosecutors and Kivitter’s public defender filed recently in federal court.

His sentencing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 14 before U.S. District Court Judge Richard Rogers.

Kivitter, of Osage City, pleaded guilty to the Jan. 13 robbery of Midwest Regional Credit Union, 1015 W. Sixth St., where the suspect brandished a gun, then escaped police despite a large manhunt that lasted for hours in the neighborhood around the credit union.

He was captured Feb. 11 after robbing the Olpe State Bank in Lyon County, when bank president Joe Wendling got in his pickup, tailed the robber and used his cell phone to lead authorities to the arrest.

Kivitter also pleaded guilty to the Oct. 16, 2002, armed robbery of First State Bank and Trust in Edgerton; the Oct. 22, 2002, robbery of Citizen’s State Bank of Pomona; the Dec. 9, 2002, robbery of U.S. Bank of Silver Lake; and the Jan. 7 attempted robbery of Citizen’s State Bank of Burlington.

For each of the Edgerton, Lawrence and Olpe robberies, Kivitter faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and $250,000 fine. For the Pomona and Silver Lake robberies, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison each and $250,000 fine. He also faces a weapons charge that carries a seven-year sentence.

According to the plea agreement, Kivitter has agreed “he will not request a sentence of less than 205 months,” which is one month more than 17 years.

A financial affidavit said Kivitter was self-employed, earning little, and that his only possession was a 1989 Ford Mustang worth around $800.