RALEIGH - A man charged with abducting his former girlfriend from her home Sunday is scheduled to be in court next month on charges of armed robbery in Vance County, state records show.

Earnest Lee Bryant, 25, of 1976 Lincoln Ave. in Henderson was charged in January with robbery with a dangerous weapon, court records show.

Bryant, whom police accused Monday of assaulting and kidnapping Shelly Pannell, also has past convictions for assaulting women, according to court records.

At Bryant's court appearance Monday, Wake County District Judge Anne B. Salisbury appointed an attorney for him.

He has been charged with one felony count each of first-degree kidnapping, breaking and entering and assault on a female.

Pannell, 25, was reported missing by her family about 3 p.m. Sunday. Holly Springs police issued a statewide alert. Police said there were signs of a break-in at her home on New Hill Road.

Apex police reported that a witness saw Bryant's car Sunday heading north on U.S. 1. A man inside the vehicle appeared to be behaving aggressively toward a female in the car, police said.

Pannell was found about 2 a.m. Monday at a motel in Henderson, authorities reported. She was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Police also found Bryant at the motel and arrested him.

Salisbury left Bryant's bail at $153,000 Monday, but she said another judge might review it and possibly lower it. "You need to find someone who will put your best foot forward," she told him.

State records show Bryant has previous criminal convictions in Vance and Wake counties, including a pending charge in Vance of felony possession of cocaine.

Bryant was convicted in Vance County for assault on a female in 2005 and simple assault in 2001. In the 2001 case, he was ordered not to assault, threaten or harass a female victim. Other convictions include disorderly conduct, resisting an officer and carrying a concealed gun.

Bryant is scheduled to appear in court in Vance County on July 12 for the armed robbery charge.

(News researcher Lamara Williams contributed to this report.)

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