FARMINGTON — A District Court judge lowered bail Monday from $75,000 to $10,000 cash for a man accused of robbing the Franklin Savings Bank on Friday.

Jay police arrested Alan J. Lewis, 39, of Jay on a felony charge of robbery and a misdemeanor charge of operating without a license within 90 minutes of the robbery, acting police Chief Richard Caton IV said on Friday.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the Farmington District Court, Lewis went into the bank and handed a teller a note. The note stated, “Give me the money in the immediate area. If you don’t, it will be bad. No dye packs, no buttons. Be good and I’ll leave.”

Lewis left the bank and fled in a car, heading south toward Livermore Falls, according to the report.

Jay police watched the bank’s surveillance footage and recognized Lewis from past dealings. Livermore Falls officer Stephen E. Gould was sent to check to see if the car was at a trailer at 46 Jewell St. in Jay, located about a half-mile away, according to the affidavit. Lewis was walking toward Gould when Jay Sgt. Troy Young arrived in his personal vehicle. He had responded from his home.

Lewis handed the $1,793 taken in the robbery to Young.

Police interviewed him and according to the affidavit, he admitted he was in a bad place financially and had been drinking.

Assistant District Attorney Joshua Robbins asked Judge Eric Walker to set bail at $10,000 cash for Lewis and for conditions that included no contact with Franklin Savings Bank.

Defense attorney Jason Bulay waived bail until a lawyer can be appointed by the court to represent Lewis. The appointed lawyer would then have the right to negotiate a lower bail. Since the robbery charge is a felony, no plea was entered.

Walker set the bail at $10,000 cash bail and set bail conditions that included no contact with Franklin County Savings Bank, no use or possession of alcohol or illegal drugs and no use or possession of weapons.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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