By Christopher Williams,Staff Writer

PORTLAND – The lawyer for an accused bank robber said he plans to seek a psychological evaluation for his client.

Auburn lawyer William Maselli said Friday he likely will ask the court to assess the mental health of David Bolduc, 45, of Greene. He was arrested Monday shortly after allegedly robbing Androscoggin Savings Bank on Turner Street in Auburn. Authorities believe he may be linked to as many as five similar robberies in and around Lewiston.

Bolduc appeared in U.S. District Court Friday morning where he waived his right to a bail hearing. It was his second time in court since his arrest. He is expected to be held at the Cumberland County Jail pending trial.

Prosecutors said in court records that Bolduc posed a flight risk and there was no condition of release that would “reasonably assure safety of any other person and the community.”

The bank robbery note he used said: “I’M ARMED,” according to a police affidavit. No weapon was found during a pat-down before his arrest, the affidavit said.

He was led by a security detail into U.S. Magistrate Judge David Cohen’s small, oak-paneled hearing room. Bolduc answered several questions from Cohen. A few minutes later, he was led away in handcuffs. Bolduc was dressed in an orange jail shirt and pants as well as matching slip-on sneakers. He was clean-shaven, unlike his alleged appearance in bank surveillance photos.

After the hearing, Maselli conferred with U.S. Assistant Attorney Michael Conley and a court clerk about the timing of a request for a mental health assessment.

Maselli said later his request would be based on Bolduc’s “behavior relative to the conduct he’s charged with.” Maselli said he hoped the evaluation would be completed before Bolduc went to trial.

Conley said he would respond formally to such a request after it’s filed with the court.

A grand jury is expected to hear Bolduc’s case. If it believes there was probable cause, it will return an indictment against him. An arraignment would follow. He would be expected to enter a plea at that time.

The case against Bolduc is being heard in federal court because bank robberies are considered crimes against federal institutions. The FBI is among the agencies investigating the string of robberies that have vexed the Lewiston-Auburn area since November.

Bolduc has been charged with a single count of bank robbery, but has confessed to as many as five other bank robberies in Androscoggin County since November, according to court documents. He said he needed the money to support a drug habit.

He lived in a pale yellow mobile home with black shutters and white trim at 136 Hillside Estates Drive in Greene, according to court records.