Court documents reveal deputy accused of robbing bank had mental health issues

ROCKWELL, N.C. — Federal prosecutors now say a former Davidson County deputy accused of robbing a Rowan County bank was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

Jeff Athey was arrested in February after investigators said he robbed the F&M Bank on West Main Street in Rockwell at gunpoint. He was caught four minutes later driving slowly down the road.

Court documents said Athey had worked for a company called DynCorp International in hostile environments, like Iraq and Afghanistan

Court records also said he had “built a concrete bunker in his mother’s house, outfitted with bells and cans to alert him if someone was entering or approaching.” They said it was much like his living quarters in the Middle East.

The Davidson County Sheriff told Channel 9 Athey came back to the office after working overseas and was always a good worker and polite. He said any mental health issues would have been protected by HIPAA law.

"We would not know about any mental health issues unless it manifested itself around here.  Because he has ability through our employee assistance program and our insurance carrier to go to mental health treatment and we wouldn't be informed about it,” Davidson County Sheriff David Grice said.

Prosecutors said Athey worked part-time at the bank over the Christmas holiday as a security guard.

The sheriff said his office wasn’t aware of that, and it was a violation of policy.

Athey is in jail with no bond set. He will appear in court in July.

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