Curtis goes to trial

    Probable cause was found in a preliminary hearing today for Katelyn Marie Curtis, 18, of Cedar Rapids. She allegedly aided in the robbery of the West Chester Savings Bank on Oct. 5.

    Washington Police Department Sgt. Lyle Hansen was the only witness at the hearing, Judge Dan Kitchen ruled Curtis be held over for trial.

    ?I find probable cause to believe the aiding and abetting of a robbery occurred,? Kitchen ruled. ?The case will be passed on to district court.?

    He said a date would be set for the trial to begin.

    Curtis remains in the Washington County Jail even after Judge Lucy Gamon ruled that the $25,000 bail Curtis was held on would stand, but removed the cash only requirement allowing a bail bond company to post bail. Raylon Deshon Jones, 19, of Washington, is waiting for a ruling on the status of his public defender before a preliminary hearing will be held. Verkisha Latrice Burns, 20, of Cedar Rapids, waived her preliminary hearing.

    During the hearing, Hansen testified that Curtis was apprehended at a felony vehicle stop of Curtis? 2002 Chevy Cavalier with the two other suspects. He said the car was stopped about seven miles north of Washington on Highway 1 after the robbery. He said Police Chief Greg Goodman did two interviews with Curtis. Goodman was not present at the hearing. During the second hearing, Hansen testified, Curtis admitted to knowing the robbery was going to happen and had gone into the bank to count the number of people inside prior to the robbery.

    Hansen said the vehicle was secured after the suspects were taken for questioning and later moved to another location. He said he had checked the trunk after the suspects were removed, but hadn?t searched it. He said he only searched the trunk after a search warrant was obtained.

For the full story, see the Oct. 21 edition of The Washington Evening Journal