Knoxville man charged with 3 felonies in bank robbery
Mar. 20—A Knoxville, Iowa, man accused of holding up a bank branch in Delmar, is now charged with three felonies in Clinton County District Court.
Jeffrey Brian Bettis, 37, according to trial information filed Tuesday, is facing two counts of first-degree robbery, a Class B felony, and possession of a firearm by a felon as a habitual offender, a Class D felony.
Class B felonies are punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Class D felonies are punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
His next court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. March 28 at the courthouse.
Bettis is accused of robbing the Clinton National Bank branch in Delmar soon after noon on Friday, March 8. Wearing a mask, he pointed a handgun at two bank employees, according to the criminal complaint filed by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office. He demanded and received money and the employees' car keys.
Bettis fled south in one of the employees' vehicles, which authorities found unoccupied a short distance from the bank, the complaint says. By viewing video surveillance footage, deputies determined Bettis left the area in a 2014 White Ford Escape and alerted all local law enforcement of the search.
Iowa State Patrol stopped the Ford Escape at 1:13 p.m. near Eldridge, where Bettis was arrested.
He originally was booked into Clinton County jail on one robbery count. He remains in the Clinton County Jail on a $100,000 cash only bond.
