Lawrence man pleads guilty in robbery at KU Credit Union

A 21-year-old Lawrence man pleaded guilty Monday to two federal charges for robbing a Lawrence credit union last July, a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Jim Cross, a U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman, said Timothy Hays pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., to one count of armed robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a robbery. A grand jury had indicted Hays on those same charges last summer.

Prosecutors alleged Hays took currency July 12 from a teller in the KU Credit Union, 3400 W. Sixth St., and used a loaded firearm during the robbery.

A teller told police that day the suspect showed a handgun and demanded money before grabbing an undisclosed amount of cash and leaving by the front door of the building, which is near Sixth Street and Kasold Drive.

Police arrested Hays three hours after the robbery when officers discovered him in the area of the credit union.

Cross said Hays is set to be sentenced April 4 by U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia.