SEATTLE -- A Snohomish County man who robbed banks and espresso stands to pay for his heroin addiction was sentenced this morning to three years in federal prison.
U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour recommended that David Hayes, 25, get intensive drug treatment while locked behind bars. Hayes is accused of setting out on a month-long crime spree between Mount Vernon and Seattle.
On Christmas Eve 2008, Hayes stole a car idling outside a Mount Vernon home. The next morning he robbed the Cowgirl Espresso Stand in Everett in the stolen car. A couple days later he robbed a bank in Marysville. Two weeks later he hit a bank in Seattle. Then he pulled off bank heists in Arlington and Bothell. Hayes also robbed a second espresso stand, this time in Mount Vernon.
In all the hold-ups he made the victims think that he was armed with a weapon.
Hayes was identified after his picture appeared in a local newspaper. A person recognized him and called police. He was arrested Jan. 25 in Seattle.
Hayes told police that he committed the robberies to pay for heroin. He owed money to drug dealers and feared for his life, Hayes said. He claimed he robbed the espresso stands for gas money so he could drive to Seattle to buy drugs.
He pleaded guilty in March to bank robbery. He has agreed to pay back the $4,184 he stole from the banks and espresso stands.
A large number of his family members were in court at this morning's hearing.
"I hope you realize how much you've let them down," the judge told Hayes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Dion recommended a low-end sentence for Hayes, saying he hoped the convicted robber would get help for his drug addiction.
