Tulsa Bank Robbery Suspect Confesses To Lori Fullbright

A federal jury found Talala man, Jesse Leaverton, guilty this week of robbing three banks in Green Country.

Leaverton didn't testify at his trial, but, he did confess to News On Six crime reporter Lori Fullbright when she conducted an exclusive jailhouse interview with him.

Jesse Leaverton didn't really try to disguise himself when he robbed two banks in Tulsa, one in Fairfax and another in Missouri this summer.

He's been to federal prison before for bank robbery and done time for other crimes as well.

He blames these latest robberies on an addiction to painkillers, saying it cost him around $4,000 a month.

Leaverton: "I was taking 15-20 Lortabs at a time. I'd take nine-10 oxycontin at a time."

He said he has psychological issues from the abuse he suffered at his grandmother's hand when he was a boy.

Leaverton: "We used to, believe it or not, get locked in a basement and chained to the concrete floor."

He said prosecutors want to put him away for life, but he doesn't believe that's justice.

Leaverton: "But a child molester, someone who rapes a woman, they give them three to four years and they get back out. A bank robber that didn't hurt anybody is worse than a child molester or someone who rapes a woman?"

He said he never hurt anyone during his robberies because he used a note, not a gun, even though the note said he had a gun and knife and threatened to kill them.

Lori Fullbright: "They felt traumatized."

Leaverton: "I wasn't trying to hurt anyone. If I did hurt anyone, it was my mother and younger sister."

He said he's asked God to take his life and asked the officers who arrested him, to kill him. 

He believes suicide is a sin.

Leaverton: "I believe God has forgiven me. Is humans going to forgive me? No, but when it's all said and donek God's the only one who matters anyhow."