Judge wants man convicted of robbery to get drug treatment in prison
Published 11:22 pm Friday, July 10, 2009
SEATTLE — A Snohomish County man who robbed banks and espresso stands to pay for his heroin addiction was sentenced Friday to three years in federal prison.
U.S. District Judge John Coughenour recommended that David Hayes, 25, get intensive drug treatment while locked behind bars. Hayes is accused of setting out on a monthlong crime spree between Mount Vernon and Seattle.
The one-man crime wave began on Christmas Eve 2008 when Hayes stole a car idling outside a Mount Vernon home. The next morning while behind the wheel of the stolen car, he robbed the Cowgirl Espresso Stand in Everett. 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.
During all the hold-ups he committed, the victims believed he was armed with a weapon.
Hayes was identified after his photo 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. Hayes 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 Friday’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.
“David Hayes is a sad case. After years of drug addiction and petty crime, he has graduated to federal-level criminal activity,” Dion said. “Desperate for drug money, Hayes robbed four banks and two coffee stands. Hayes may not be a violent man, but the victims of his robberies didn’t know that.”
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.
