KANSAS CITY, KAN. ? A former Kansas University student told a judge Wednesday that severe depression was the reason he went on a spree of armed bank robberies in 2002 and 2003.

“I can’t imagine, in the right state of mind, doing what I did,” Jeffrey R. Cox, 22, said during a sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court. “I was depressed, and I thank God every day that people weren’t hurt because of my actions.”

Judge G. Thomas Van Bebber sentenced Cox to 87 months, or about 7 years, in federal prison for the Feb. 2, 2003, robbery of Central National Bank, 711 Wakarusa Drive, and a 2002 robbery in Cox’s home state of Ohio. Cox faces potentially more time behind bars for two robbery charges pending in Douglas County.

Van Bebber also ordered Cox to repay about $11,700 stolen during the two robberies.

“I never meant to hurt anybody,” Cox said, turning around to face people in the courtroom as he spoke. “I can’t begin to express how sorry I am.”

Suicidal tendencies

Cox, a former business student and McCollum Hall resident, was arrested a year ago by FBI agents in Atlanta and charged with five robberies in all; two in his home state of Ohio and three in Lawrence.

In the first two Lawrence robberies, he pointed a gun at employees, demanded money from them and told them to have a nice day. In the last of the robberies, a Dec. 10, 2003, heist at University National Bank, 1400 Kasold Drive, he fired a gun over tellers’ heads.

“I appreciate the fact that you’re sorry for what you did, but when you discharged that firearm in the bank, that was a very serious thing,” Van Bebber told Cox before imposing the sentence.

Cox’s attorney, Thomas Telthorst, said Cox bought the .40-caliber Glock handgun used in the robberies because he planned to kill himself with it. Telthorst said the robberies were contrary to Cox’s upbringing and his character.

More charges

Cox smiled at his parents as U.S. marshals escorted him in and out of the courtroom, and his mother wiped away tears throughout the hearing. Cox’s parents declined comment afterward because of the pending charges in Douglas County.

As part of a plea agreement reached in September, U.S. Atty. Eric Melgren’s office dropped charges related to the University National Bank robbery and the June 9, 2003, robbery of Douglas County Bank, 711 W. 23rd St.

After that plea, Douglas County Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney decided to file state charges against Cox in the two Lawrence cases that were dismissed. She said two reasons were the violent nature of the University National Bank robbery and the fact it was a crystal-clear surveillance photo at University National Bank that led to Cox’s arrest.

Unless Cox files paperwork requesting to be brought to Douglas County, he won’t face trial here until he serves his federal sentence, Kenney said.

A ‘level-headed guy’

According to KU records, Cox was from Hudson, Ohio, an affluent community south of Cleveland. He lived on the third floor of McCollum Hall in spring 2002 and at the time of two of the robberies lived with roommates in a townhouse near Clinton Parkway and Kasold Drive.

One of the roommates, Bob Bonifield, told the Journal-World earlier this year that he never saw Cox with a gun and didn’t notice anything unusual at the time. In retrospect, though, he said Cox seemed unconcerned about money.

He told roommates he’d received an inheritance. He customized his Nissan Maxima, bought a new mattress for his bed, and bought beer whenever he wanted it, Bonifield said.

“Jeff always was a level-headed guy,” Bonifield said. “He’s very professional, very precise … He wouldn’t have done something as drastic as that unless there was something very serious happening in his life.”

6News video: Former KU student given 7-year sentence Plea reached in bank robberies (09-18-04) Robber hits Emprise Bank on S. Iowa (09-09-04) Bank robbed in south Lawrence (09-08-04) (Breaking story ) Police search for bank robber (9-8-04) Typical student or bank robber? (2-5-04) Former KU student charged with Lawrence bank robberies (12-31-04)Dec. 10 robbery: Leads on bank robber phoned into police (12-17-03) Unsolved bank heists similar, officials say (12-12-03) 6News video: Robber may have held up banks before (12-12-03) Bank robber eludes police (12-11-03) 6News video: Armed robber still being sought (12-11-03) Police investigating report of bank robbery in west Lawrence (12-10-03)June 9 robbery: 6News video: Police continue search for armed robber (6-10-03) Police, FBI searching for bank robber (6-9-03)Feb. 2 robbery: 6News video: Police spend afternoon looking for armed robber (2-8-03)