Suspected bank robber dies in Federal custody

Earl Large II had been friends with James Robinson since they were boys, growing up in Clovis.

Large knew Robinson by his nickname, “Bootsy.”

“My first cousin is Bootsy’s first cousin and we hung out from our late teens to early 20s,” Large said Thursday night after learning Robinson, 50, died in a Lovington jail where he was being held on federal bank robbery charges.

“Bootsy was a really good person.  He really was,” Large said. “Bootsy got along with everyone.”

Large said he had a love for Robinson, even though police say he robbed two Clovis banks last month.

“But he never had a weapon,” Large said.

Large said Robinson’s father died when Bootsy was young.

“As teenagers we just hung out,” Large said. “Family dinners and such.”

Large said he doesn’t think Robinson ever had a job as a young man. He went to prison soon after a bank robbery conviction in Texas in 1993.

Large said Robinson only recently got out of prison after a 2001 Texas robbery.

“He was trying to better his life,” Large said.  “He had a job, he got engaged. But it didn’t last long. He was just overwhelmed, he couldn’t take it anymore.”

Large said he believes Robinson’s troubles were drug-related.

When Robinson was arrested on June 28, police said he was in possession of what they believed to be methamphetamine.

U.S. Marshals Service Public Information Officer Jim Glisson confirmed Robinson’s death on Thursday.

“He is deceased, that’s all I can tell you,” Glisson said.

A USMS news release stated Robinson died July 4 at the Lea County Detention Center in Lovington, where USMS partners with the facility to house prisoners. Officials did not provide a cause of Robinson’s death.

Lovington police, who are investigating the death, did not respond to phone calls seeking comment.

Robinson was arrested June 28, accused of robbing the Washington Federal Bank in Clovis on June 17 and the U.S. Bank of Clovis on June 27. No one was injured in either incident. Court records show about $22,000 in cash was stolen.  Witnesses told police they saw no weapon in either robbery.

Robinson was arrested when his SUV, recognized from the second robbery, was spotted on Clovis’ Mitchell Street.

Clovis police transported Robinson to Plains Regional Medical Center soon after his arrest, where they said he was treated for high blood pressure and alcohol intoxication.

After treatment at PRMC, Robinson was booked into the Curry County Adult Detention Center where he remained until federal authorities took him into custody on June 30, District Attorney Brian Stover said.