Grand jury indicts bank robbery suspect

PONDERAY - An Alaska man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for robbing Horizon Credit Union on July 7, according to U.S. District Court records.

Karl Erik Erickson was originally charged in Idaho's 1st District Court, but the case was dismissed so he could be prosecuted federally.

Erickson is charged with one count of bank robbery, an offense that's punishable by as long as 10 years in prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Erickson made an initial appearance via video feed on Wednesday. A plea of not guilty was entered, federal court records indicate. He is scheduled to be tried in Coeur d'Alene on Sept. 15.

The court reviewed a financial affidavit, although it's unclear in online court records if a public defender was appointed to represent Erickson.

An order of temporary detention was entered and a detention hearing is set for Monday. Federal prosecutors argue Erickson should remain incarcerated because he is charged with a crime of violence and is at risk of flight and obstruction of justice.

Erickson, 32, is accused of entering the credit union, stating it was a robbery and demanding $5,000, documents in the state case alleged. He made off with $3,410 in the heist.

Erickson parked his getaway vehicle behind Sandpoint Furniture and managed to elude capture until July 10, when he was arrested during a traffic stop in Kootenai County. Idaho State Police said the traffic stop was due in part because of a citizen's tip.

Erickson is linked to addresses in Palmer and Wasilla, Alaska. Erickson, according to that state's online courts database, has a length criminal record consisting mostly of misdemeanors. However, he also has felony drug and theft arrests, in addition to a conviction for forcible robbery in 2004.