Couple pleads guilty to Otsego bank robbery

A 20-year-old St. Paul man and a 21-year-old Elk River woman recently pleaded guilty in federal court in connection with the Dec. 27, 2007, robbery of the Bank of Elk River branch in Otsego.

Kelsie Lynn Becklin pleaded guilty to one count of misprision of a felony April 18 in St. Paul. She entered her plea before United States District Court Judge Richard Kyle. Donald Anthony Jackson pleaded guilty March 4 before Judge Kyle to one count of bank robbery. Jackson was indicted Jan. 22, and Becklin was charged via information on April 16.

According to their plea agreements, on Dec. 27 Jackson did by force, violence and intimidation take approximately $4,100 from a bank teller at the Bank of Elk River in Otsego. On that same day, Becklin had knowledge that Jackson actually committed the robbery, and failed to report it to law enforcement.

According to an affidavit filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, at approximately 2:18 p.m. on Dec. 27 a woman later identified as Becklin entered the bank, 15800 88th St. NE, looked around the bank but did not conduct any bank business. Later that day, at approximately 5 p.m. a man, later identified as Jackson, approached a teller and verbally told the teller to give him all of the money. Witnesses reported seeing the alleged robber leave in a pickup truck with a woman.

On Dec. 29, 2007, Jackson and Becklin turned themselves in to the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, and were transported to the Wright County Jail.

Jackson faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and Becklin faces a potential maximum penalty of three years in prison. Judge Kyle will determine their sentences at a future date.

This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the sheriff’s offices of Sherburne and Wright county, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William J. Otteson.

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