Suspected Raleigh bank robber confesses at first court appearance
A man making his first court appearance on charges that he robbed two banks and a convenience store had to be quieted Tuesday afternoon by the judge, who urged him to stop speaking about the case.
Posted — Updated"I want to confess to everything," James Loyal Liken told Wake County District Judge Keith Gregory. "I hit rock bottom."
Gregory cautioned Liken about speaking without an attorney and then set his bond at $5 million and ordered that a public defender be ordered to represent him.
Liken, 34, faces three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of second-degree kidnapping in three cases in Raleigh in recent weeks.
Police arrested him Monday following a robbery at First Citizens Bank at 7208 Creedmoor Road. Stolen money and a gun were found in his vehicle, prosecutors said.
He's also accused of robbing a Bank of America branch at 8371 Creedmoor Road on Jan. 14 and a Han-Dee Hugo's convenience store at 4120 Glenwood Ave. on Jan. 30.
Security images from the Jan. 14 case show a man dressed in a parka, hat and what appears to be a handkerchief over his face waiting in line.
According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Liken was released from prison in July after a six-month prison term for being convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon. He is also on 36 months' probation for the crime.
Liken has convictions dating to 1998, including worthless check charges, assault on an officer and carrying a concealed weapon.
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