WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. An alleged credit union robber interrupted his own trial and told the judge he would plead guilty to charges he robbed a Latino Community CU branch last year after his uncle testified against him.
Rodney Rainey, 41, was being tried in state court this week on charges of common-law robbery and being a habitual felon. Rainey’s uncle was called as the third witness in the case.
The uncle, who got emotional while on the witness stand, testified that on the morning of the robbery Rainey had left the house wearing a camouflage jacket belonging to the uncle. Security cameras showed the robber wearing a similar camouflage jacket. The uncle also testified that Rainey gave him $100 in cash after the robbery.
During his uncle’s testimony, Rainey jumped up from his seat beside his attorney, urging his uncle to step down and telling the judge that he would plead guilty. The judge stopped the trial and allowed Rainey to plead guilty to both charges, and the jury was dismissed.
The judge sentenced Rainey to eight years and five months to 11 years and two months.
Rainey is accused of going into the credit union at 9 a.m. Feb. 3 and passing a note to a teller demanding $7,500. When the teller reached for a bundled stack of cash, he told her not to give that to him, fearing it contained marked bills. He told her to reach into the register for cash in her register. Rainey left with almost $2,000 in cash.
Family members contacted police when they recognized Rainey in security camera footage that was featured on area broadcast news channels about the robbery.
