BENTON – A 60-year-old Salem man has been indicted in federal court in Benton for an alleged bank robbery earlier this year in Zeigler.

Earl Morlan was facing charges in Franklin County of Class X felony armed robbery with a firearm and Class 1 felony aggravated armed robbery indicating a firearm and was being held in state custody at the Franklin County Jail.

Morlan has since been placed in federal custody and was federally indicted last week on a single count of bank robbery claiming on Jan. 31 of this year Morlan indicated he had a weapon when he robbed the Southern Illinois Bank in Zeigler.

On Monday, Morlan pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Judge Reona J. Daly and demanded a jury trial, which has been tentatively set for July 10 at the Benton Federal Courthouse. The case is next scheduled June 27 for a final pretrial conference.

The Franklin County case was scheduled for a May 16 jury trial, but that setting has been vacated in light of the federal case being filed.

The state’s case is next scheduled for a July 19 pretrial conference.