A middle-aged man with no criminal record walks into a Gastonia bank on June 9 and slips a teller a note demanding $1 - and medical treatment.

Then he sits down and waits for police.

James Richard Verone's story has captured national attention and made front pages in papers as far away as England, Gaston County Sheriff Alan Cloninger said Tuesday.

Verone, 59, was charged with larceny from a person after he entered the RBC Centura Bank on South New Hope Road and handed the teller note demanding $1.

"It's a bad situation when someone who's been law-abiding all his life falls on hard times and feels like he has to commit a crime to get health care," Cloninger said. "It's tragic."

While Verone has no criminal record, court documents show he owes tens of thousands of dollars in judgments and filed a domestic violence suit against a family member in January.

In an interview with the Gaston Gazette, Verone said he was unemployed and suffering from various ailments, including back and foot problems and what he suspects is pancreatic cancer.

On the day of the robbery, Verone sent a letter to the Gazette listing the Gaston County Jail as his return address.

"I am of sound mind, but not so much sound body," he wrote.

Before deciding to commit the robbery, Verone said he'd looked into filing for disability and had applied for early Social Security.

The only thing he qualified for, Verone said, was food stamps. A feeling of desperation, not wanting to be a burden on his relatives along with extreme pain made him consider going to a homeless shelter or asking charities for help.

Assistance would've been available at two safety net organizations. Gaston Family Health Services is a federally qualified health center with seven locations in Gaston. HealthNet Gaston is a collaboration between Gaston Family Services and CaroMont Health that coordinates volunteer care from specialists.

But Verone decided to rob a bank.

Verone said he didn't want to scare anyone during the robbery and never showed a weapon.

"I told the teller that I would sit over here and wait for police."

While in jail, Verone has seen several nurses and a doctor. He's also waiting to do interviews with the national media.

Verone said he'd expected to be charged with bank robbery. While the current charge is a felony, it won't land him in jail as long.

If things go as hoped, Verone said during the interview, he'd get needed medical care while serving several years in prison. Then he'd collect Social Security and move to the beach.

Verone is being held under $2,000 bond awaiting a June 28 court date. He'll represent himself.

Sheriff Cloninger wasn't aware of any organized church coming to bat for Verone. But Cloninger said HealthNet Gaston was bringing information by about its services.

Looking ahead, the Gazette reported that Verone was considering an ultimatum if the active sentence isn't long enough: "The crime will happen again."