SAN DIEGO -- A man who used a demand note to hold up four North County banks over a 2 1/2-month period pleaded guilty Thursday to robbery and other charges.

Thomas Edward Lavalle, 61, could be sent to prison for as long as six years, eight months when he is sentenced July 16 by Judge David Danielsen.

The defendant pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery and one count of felony evading by reckless driving. He also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of having a concealed weapon in his vehicle and carrying a loaded firearm.

Lavalle admitted robbing banks in Escondido, Fallbrook, Encinitas and Carmel Mountain Ranch on Jan. 30, Feb. 26, March 5 and March 13, respectively.

After the last heist, Lavalle led authorities on a 40-minute high-speed pursuit before he was taken into custody.

A bank bag with $1,101 in cash, a loaded semiautomatic handgun, baseball caps, sunglasses and folders were found during a search of the defendant's vehicle, San Diego police Detective Tim Johnson testified at an April 23 preliminary hearing.

The license plates on Lavalle's Honda were covered with paper to make them look like dealer plates, Johnson said.