Attorneys are working on a settlement in the case of the
”
No-Face bandit,
”
but recent hearings were continued until next month because of
undisclosed
”
issues.
”
Attorneys are working on a settlement in the case of the “No-face bandit,” but recent hearings were continued until next month because of undisclosed “issues.”
Federal and state attorneys hope to settle dozens of federal and state in Peter Klein’s case, involving the alleged theft of more than $400,000 from 11 federally insured banks. The 49-year-old Aromas man – dubbed the “No Face Bandit” by police for his signature attire of dark glasses, ball cap and nylon stockings – pleaded not guilty to 11 federal counts of armed bank robbery but has yet to enter a plea to the 27 felony counts of false imprisonment, robbery and possession of stolen property brought against him by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
Federal and state hearings held earlier this week were continued to Aug. 31 and Sept. 8, respectively. Klein is currently in federal custody.
The local and federal cases are completely independent, Deputy District Attorney Cindy Hendrickson explained. However, the parties are working to devise a global agreement, she said. Hendrickson would not describe the tentative details of the plea agreement but merely said her office and federal prosecutors were hoping to settle the case together. She also would not describe the “issue” that caused the continuation.
“There’s not much to elaborate on at this point,” she said.
Although she did not know if the parties would reach a settlement by the next court date, she hoped the issue causing the continuance would be resolved by then.
Klein’s charges stem from a year-long spree robberies in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, including four Gilroy banks, according to court documents.
Gilroy police arrested Klein March 27 after they were alerted by an off-duty San Jose police officer stopped at a red light near Chase Bank on First Street, according to police reports. The officer saw customers inside with their hands in the air and believed the situation looked suspicious.
Local prosecutors charged Klein with the Chase robbery along with six other bank robberies in Santa Clara County. Federal charges include these robberies along with four robberies in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. Klein’s charges in Santa Clara County carry a maximum prison sentence of 27 years and four months, according to prosecutors.
