LITTLE ROCK — A former Little Rock man who told police he was inspired to rob a Little Rock bank by a movie about John Dillinger lost a bid to have the statement thrown out of court Monday. Michael Arlie Feuget’s challenge to the legality of a police search of his home in the Heights neighborhood also was rejected by a Pulaski County circuit judge at Monday’s hearing.
Feuget, who now lives in Murfreesboro, faces a potential life sentence on the Class Y felony robbery charge, accused of stealing $3,000 from the Iberia Bank branch at 4900 W. Markham St. in January. His attorney, Justin Hurst of Hot Springs, said he is planning an insanity defense.
Deputy prosecutor Hugh Finkelstein told Judge Marion Humphrey that prosecutors would produce evidence of Feuget’s role in a 1989 Pike County homicide for a Pulaski County jury to consider in making a punishment recommendation if the 44-year-old Feuget is convicted at his coming aggravated robbery trial.
Feuget, then known as Michael Ray “Pickle” Fugitt, was “implicated” in the shooting death of John David Pollock of Murfreesboro but was granted immunity for his testimony at trial in 1990, detective Barry Flannery said. James Paul Dalton was convicted of manslaughter in Pollock’s death and sentenced to 10 years in prison at a 1990 trial by a Pike County jury that rejected a first-degree murder charge. Feuget has no prior criminal convictions.
On Monday, Hurst challenged his client’s 12-minute interview with detective Bobby Martin, conducted within three hours of the January holdup. Hurst claimed that the interrogation was illegal because Feuget was so intoxicated by prescription medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and depression that he couldn’t intelligently waive his rights. Martin, questioned by Hurst, acknowledged Feuget’s demeanor was unusually calm and polite for a robbery suspect. He testified that Feuget didn’t appear intoxicated, but acknowledged he isn’t familiar with the symptoms of Adderall and Zoloft intoxication.
Adderall is used to treat symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Zoloft is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks and other disorders.
Feuget “appeared perfectly normal,” Martin, a 25-year police veteran, told the judge. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a case where the suspect was as polite as Mr. Feuget.”
Feuget didn’t testify at Monday’s hearing, but prosecutors played the recording for the judge. Feuget told the detective his plan was straightforward.
“It was basically just to go in and try to get them to give me all of the money without getting caught,” he told Martin. “They handed me everything and I walked out. It was about 20 seconds, I guess.”
Feuget said he was arrested as he was driving to dispose of what he thought was an explosive-paint device planted in the money taken from the bank. At Martin’s request, he identified himself in bank surveillance photos and described how he carried a plastic-pellet gun in his pants during the holdup. He said he never showed the weapon, although at least one witness saw it. He said he told bank employees that he had an accomplice outside who had traced their car license plate numbers and knew where they lived.
But Feuget struggled to explain why he would rob a bank. The self-employed insurance agent said he didn’t have any unusual financial problems. He began taking his prescribed Adderall three days before the heist and the drug pumped him up, Feuget told the detective.
“I got on some meds three days ago and I’ve been feeling like Superman,” he said. “ It’s like I’m super-juiced all of the time.”
Robbing the bank was a spur-of-the-moment decision, the married father of an 8-year old said, because his family would have intervened if they had known his intentions.
“If I’d told anyone I’d thought about that, they’d have locked me up and beat the crap out of me,” he said. “I’m ashamed. I’m embarrassed. I’m sorry. I’ve ruined my life.”
Hurst also claimed that Little Rock police had abused their authority when officers searched Feuget’s Southwood Road home without a warrant. Police found a “stack” of money in a bedroom closet in the home near the Prospect Terrace Park while searching for a possible second suspect.
Officer James Anderson, who tracked Feuget down and arrested him, testified he and his fellow officers came across the money while checking the home to make sure no one was there to ambush them.
“We were just worried about anyone who could do harm to us,” Anderson said.
Arkansas, Pages 10 on 11/23/2010