A Medford man accused of robbing two banks in Jackson County two weeks ago made his initial appearance, but did not enter a plea, in U.S. District Court in Medford last Wednesday. 

Timothy Michael Spencer, 52, is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the Umpqua Bank at 110 Pine St., Rogue River, on May 13, and the KeyBank at 2598 E. Barnett Road, Medford, on May 17, according to an FBI criminal complaint. Spencer allegedly admitted to law enforcement of his involvement in both bank robberies, the complaint said.

Spencer, who had been arrested May 18 at a local cannabis business, was escorted into the courtroom by guards before sitting at the defense table with his court-appointed counsel, federal public defender Brian Butler.

Butler waived a preliminary hearing on the accusations when U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark D. Clarke asked if he wanted one. Butler instead asked court staff to set a status conference.

Spencer told the judge he understood his rights in court.

Butler said Spencer would prefer to work with an attorney he has worked with in the past. Spencer has been convicted of numerous felony and misdemeanor charges in Jackson County, including felony fourth-degree assault.

Butler and U.S. Assistant Attorney John Brassell declined to comment after the hearing. 

On May 13, Spencer allegedly walked up to an employee at the Umpqua Bank and handed her a note that said no one would die if she gave him $20,000, the FBI complaint said. The employee gave Spencer $2,127 of the bank’s money and he left, according to the complaint.

She could not identify the suspect as Spencer. Bank security cameras captured images of him wearing monochromatic clothing, a baseball hat and dark sunglasses, the complaint said. 

The employee later said she gave the unidentified suspect a GPS tracker that would allow law enforcement to track his location as long as the device was on, according to the complaint.  

At the KeyBank on May 17, Spencer allegedly handed employees a note demanding $20,000 and threatening, “(P)lay any games and I shoot you first,” the complaint said.

The bank teller — who also could not identify the suspect as Spencer — gave him $1,493 of the bank’s money before Spencer walked out, the complaint said. Surveillance footage from the bank allegedly captured Spencer wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, dark pants, sunglasses, a baseball hat and black shoes with white soles, the complaint said.

Pictures of Spencer at KeyBank were later provided to a Medford Police Department detective, who identified Spencer as a possible suspect.

Spencer was arrested May 18 at a local cannabis business as law enforcement saw a vehicle that matched the description of the one used in the KeyBank robbery. The vehicle, found parked on Stewart Avenue in Medford, also contained clothes that matched the description of what Spencer allegedly wore during the alleged robberies.

Spencer’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 24.