March 30, 2000 

MAN INDICTED IN 1999 BANK ROBBERY 

      TRENTON – A city man accused of committing a 1999 bank robbery to get money to pay off a drug debt was indicted today, Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto announced.

      Jan V. Stokes (DOB 11/1/59), of the first block of Klagg Avenue, was indicted on a second-degree charge of robbery and a third-degree charge of theft by unlawful taking, Giaquinto said.

If convicted, Stokes could receive an extended prison term as a persistent offender, elevating the second-degree offense to a first-degree crime. As a result, Stokes could receive a 20-year term and be required to spend 85 percent of that sentence without parole if he is convicted, Giaquinto said.

      The robbery occurred about 9:30 a.m. on April 9, 1999, at the First Union bank in the 1100 block of South Broad Street. Stokes, who was unarmed, allegedly gave a teller a note demanding cash and she handed over about $11,000.

      Stokes allegedly stuffed the money under his shirt then dropped some of the cash as he left the bank. An off-duty city police officer working as a bank security officer realized what was happening and chased him. The officer radioed for help and Stokes was arrested a short time later in the 400 block of Grand Avenue and the remainder of the money was recovered.

      A man who was with Stokes at the bank was questioned, but he had erroneously believed that Stokes had gone there to make a lawful withdrawal of funds. The man, whose name was not released, was not charged in connection with the incident.

      According to information presented during Stokes’ initial bail hearing, Stokes was identified by two witnesses as the robber and it was also stated during the bail hearing that Stokes had confessed to police, telling them that he had committed the crime because he needed money for a drug debt.

      According to additional information released at the bail hearing, Stokes has three felony convictions: fourth-degree sexual assault and burglary in 1988, resulting in two years probation; possession of a controlled dangerous substance in 1990, resulting in three years probation; and second-degree sexual assault in 1994, resulting in a five-year term, requiring Stokes to have spent 2 ½ years in prison without parole.  The 1994 sentence represents a negotiated plea agreement stemming from two sexual assaults committed within a short period of time in 1991. 

      Assistant Prosecutor Cara Higgins presented the case to the grand jury.