July 14, 2014

Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery in Franklin County

KANSAS CITY, KS—A Kansas man pleaded guilty Monday to helping to rob a Franklin County Bank, U.S. Attorney Barr Grissom said.

Robert Martin, 39, Quenemo, Kan., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., to one count of bank robbery. In his plea, he admitted he took part in the March 19, 2014, robbery of Goppert State Service Bank at 118 East Franklin Street in Pomona, Kan. He said he drove to the bank with co-defendant Caleb Jeffcoat. He gave Jeffcoat a mask and BB gun that had been altered to make it look more like a real gun. Jeffcoat entered the bank and robbed a teller.

Investigators used video surveillance from a Dollar General store and a gas station in Pomona to identify the robber.

Co-defendants are: Caleb Jeffcoat, 26, Quenemo, Kan., who is awaiting sentencing. Christel Collins, 37, Quenemo, Kan., who is awaiting trial.

Sentencing will be set for a later date. Martin faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Grissom commended the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Ottawa Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, the Franklin County Attorney’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask for their work on the case.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.