Brackett said McClain was never armed during either of the robberies. He added that McClain fully cooperated with the police.

HPD Supervisor of Criminal Investigations Bryan Adams said officers did not recover the weapons from both robberies after search warrants were conducted on both McClain and Smith.

Assistant District Attorney Laura Hill told Mullinax that what McClain did was a D-Class felony, and the defendant’s charges should be taken seriously.

Smith’s mother Jessica Oglesby said after court she was “flabbergasted” when she first found out about her son’s arrest.

Oglesby described her son as someone who has never been in trouble growing up, took honors classes at Hickory High School and was actively involved in the school’s athletic programs like football and basketball.

While Oglesby suspects Smith snuck out of the house Thursday morning while she was sleeping, she said the family does not know her son’s motive in being involved with the robbery.

She said following her son’s court appearance, she had yet to speak with him.

McClain’s aunt Lauren Everley said following court her nephew’s arrest was “completely out of his character.”