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A one-dollar criminal defense story

Unlike many people who have been charged with allegations of a crime, the man from North Carolina who purposefully robbed a bank for one dollar probably does not want any criminal defense help. The reasoning behind the man’s plan was to get caught robbing a bank so that he could receive health care while in jail.

The 59-year-old man said he tried to rob the bank for medical reasons and not for monetary reasons. The 59-year-old said he does not have any insurance, does not have a job and has an empty bank account. The man said he has a growth on his chest, a problem with his left foot and two ruptured disks. Believing he had no other options, the man thought jail would be the best place to receive medical care. Therefore he developed a plan for police to arrest him.

As the man put together his bank robbery plan, he hoped for a three year jail sentence. In three years the man believed he would be able to collect Social Security, and after his medical issues were addressed in jail he thought he would retire to Myrtle Beach.

On Thursday, June 9 the man acted out his plan. He walked into a bank without a gun and gave the teller a curious note. The note said “This is a bank robbery. Please only give me one dollar.”

The teller complied and then to everyone’s surprise, the 59-year-old took a chair in the bank and told the teller he would be waiting in the chair for the police.

Helping the man achieve his goal, the police arrived and arrested him. Though the man is being held and is receiving health care, the man may not be staying as long as he planned. Since he only demanded a dollar, police charged him with larceny from a person and not bank robbery.

Source: MSNBC.MSN.com, “Man robs bank for $1 to get medical care in jail,” Rad Berky, 6/21/11

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Attorney Max Keller
Max Keller

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

Experience: Practicing since 1997
Minnesota Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: State of Minnesota Minnesota State Court Minnesota Federal Court 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals State of Maryland

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