The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled a man can be guilty of robbing a bank twice in one visit. Police say Randy Copenhaver entered a Community Savings Bank Branch in Cedar Rapids in February of 2010 wearing a mask. He went to two different tellers and demanded money before fleeing with $6,800.
Copenhaver was later caught and charged with two counts of second-degree bank robbery. A jury found him guilty on both counts. Copenhaver appealed, arguing there was only one victim — the bank — so there could only be one count of robbery.
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled there was evidence that Copenhaver intended to harm each bank teller if they did not comply with his demand for the money. The court says that evidence supports the charge that Copenhaver committed two separate and distinct robberies.
See the full ruling here: Copenhaver ruling PDF