Spray pleads not guilty, trial dates set

The suspect in the Packwood and Hedrick Bank robberies has pleaded not guilty to both robberies and a trial date has been set. Ethan Spray filed a written plea of not-guilty through his attorney, Michael Fisher, on October 24 in relation to the Hedrick Bank Robbery. A similar not-guilty plea was filed on November 2nd in Jefferson County District Court in relation to the June Packwood Bank Robbery.

Spray, 28, of Ottumwa, was arrested on October 1 and charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, one for the August 6 Hedrick Savings Bank Robbery, and one for the June 1st Pilot Grove Savings Bank robbery in Packwood. Both robberies were committed at gun point.

A criminal complaint states that search warrants conducted after the August 6 robbery yielded evidence, namely DNA evidence, linking Spray to the robbery. According to a criminal complaint filed by Keokuk County Deputy Sheriff Adam Pence, at 2:45 pm on August 6, a 911 call was received in reference to an armed robbery in progress at South Ottumwa Savings Bank in Hedrick.

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