A man charged federally in a 24-count armed robbery indictment will have a detention hearing on May 13 in Raleigh, court documents show.

Jacob Austin Evans appeared before Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers II this morning.

Evans was appointed a federal public defender and assigned a 9:30 a.m. detention hearing.

According to minute entries of the proceedings today, Evans was also advised of his rights, charges and maximum punishments.

The government moved for detention and Evans will continue to remain in custody until Magistrate Judge James E. Gates determines whether he will continue to be held upon his arraignment and other proceedings, the court documents show.

Evans, 23, of Gates, and Jequayves Britt, 19, of Sharpsburg were named in March in a 24-count indictment which charges them in a string of armed robberies across six counties last July.

The indictment includes charges related to the July 16, 2019, armed robbery of The Store Next Door on Fifth Street.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina said in March the men could face up to life in prison if convicted.

As of this report, the arrest warrant for Britt had not been returned as executed.

The Roanoke Rapids robbery occurred around 9:30 the evening of July 16, police said at the time. 

A person entered the store wearing a mask and showed a weapon. An undisclosed amount of money was taken. There were no injuries.

The robber fled the store on foot and a canine track indicated the person traveled north toward the apartment complex behind the business.