Published: July 07, 2009 12:20 pm      

Not guilty plea entered for bank robber in Corbin

Though he has admitted to investigators that he robbed Hometown Bank of Corbin in March, George Nathan Lyttle pleaded not guilty to federal charges Wednesday in U.S. District Court in London.

Lyttle, who was arrested March 30 following an investigation into the bank robbery, is accused of walking into the bank on Master Street in Corbin, pointing a .38-caliber revolver at the teller and demanding money. According to investigators, Lyttle made off with $11,527.

However, witnesses were able to give investigators a description of the blue Ford Taurus in which Lyttle escaped. Corbin police located the vehicle later that day at a gas station in North Corbin. The driver, Kennethia Clark, told police her brother, George Nathan Lyttle, had robbed the bank. She added that Lyttle was currently at their mother’s home at Northfield Station Apartments. Inside the vehicle, officers reportedly found $750 in $50 bills.

Officers went to the apartments where they found Lyttle hiding in a bedroom closet and found $3,000 in cash in an empty jar in the garbage.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents, along with Corbin Police, interviewed Clark, who said Lyttle came into the apartment saying he had just robbed a bank, gave her $200 and asked her to help count the money.

In an interview with Corbin Police, Lyttle admitted to robbing the bank, telling police a television show on A&E about a man who robbed 36 banks inspired him.

“I’m a prime example,” Lyttle told police. “Everybody don’t get away.”

Lyttle is facing up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if he is convicted of bank robbery, and a prison sentence of five years to life and up to a $250,000 fine if he is convicted of carrying a firearm during a crime of violence.

U.S. District Court Judge Amul Thapar will preside at the trial.

Staff writer Dean Manning may be reached at dmanning@sentinel-echo.com.