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Dec. 16, 2008

MAIZE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BANK ROBBERIES, FIREARMS VIOLATIONS

WICHITA, KAN. - A Maize man who overturned his car and held police at bay for hours in an attempt to escape has pleaded guilty to bank robbery charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker announced today.

Travis Ryan Klutts, 27, Maize, Kan., pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

In his plea, Klutts admitted he committed three bank robberies including:

• The Sept. 26, 2008, robbery of the Intrust Bank branch in the Dillons store at 13415 W. Maple in Wichita, Kan.
• The Oct. 6, 2008, robbery of the Intrust Bank branch in the Dillons store at 3707 N. Woodlawn.
• The Oct. 10, 2008, robbery at the First Bank branch in the Dillions store at 1216 N. Main in Newton, Kan.

In the first robbery, Klutts showed the teller a .45 caliber handgun. In the second and third robberies, he gave the tellers a demand note saying he had a gun and would use it unless he got the money.

After he left the Dillons on Oct. 10, 2008, police identified his pickup and a high speed chase ensued in which he attempted to elude officers of Harvey and McPherson counties before overturning his vehicle and fleeing to a nearby shed. A standoff with police lasted several hours before Klutts was arrested.

In his plea, Klutts also admitted that he was permanently prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm after he was convicted of burglary and felony theft in February 2006 in Sedgwick County, Kan.
Sentencing is set for March 9, 2009. He faces a maximum penalty of life on the charge of using a firearm in a crime of violence, a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each bank robbery charge, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each charge of possession by a felon.

Agencies assisting in the case include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Newton Police Department, the Wichita Police Department, the Harvey County Sheriff's Office and the McPherson County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.