Ho Hum Bandit appeals for early release from jail

An Irishman dubbed the Ho Hum Bandit, who pleaded guilty to a string of bank robberies in the United States, has appealed to a judge for leniency, asking to be sentenced to time served and released from prison.

Lawyers for Adam Lynch claim the Dubliner is suffering from mental illnesses and needs psychiatric help, not more time in prison.

Lynch will be sentenced next week in Colorado after pleading guilty to three bank robberies in that state and one in Wyoming.

He also agreed to pay restitution to a further seven banks, essentially admitting to robbing them during a prolific spree between Aug 2010 and Mar 2011, a month before his arrest.

Prosecutors originally asked for Lynch to be sentenced to up to 11 years, but now believe he should be imprisoned for close to six, at the higher end of what was recommended in a pre-sentence report.

However, Lynch, through his federal public defender lawyer, has appealed to the judge presiding to vary from the sentencing guidelines.

“Adam committed the offences under diminished capacity as a result of his mental disorders,” the motion reads.

“Adam’s two-year incarceration has served its purpose — there is no longer a need for desert and deterrence. The court should vary from the guidelines in an amount sufficient to afford him credit time served, a period of home confinement with supervised release thereafter and, most importantly, treatment for his mental illness.”

Prosecutors disagree, arguing many individuals suffering from deep depression live law abiding lives, let alone commit violent crimes.

Assistant US attorney David Conner wrote: “The government believes there is scant... evidence that the defendant either did not realise what he was doing was wrong, that he was victimising other people, or that he could not conform his actions to the law based upon his depression.

“Moreover, the image the record paints of this defendant is an individual who through his own rationalisation and dehumanisation of others came to view victim tellers as human ATM machines.”

Lynch, named the Ho Hum Bandit as he looked bored and even yawned during the robberies, was arrested in Apr 2011.

The Irishman told cashiers he was armed but had no gun.

Lynch was picked up outside Fado Irish bar in Denver after revealing to his estranged girlfriend that he committed the robberies.

In the motion for leniency, it is claimed Lynch knew his girlfriend would call the authorities.

“Adam did not use the proceeds from the bank robberies for luxury items nor generally on himself. His motivation was to give money for bills to his girlfriend at the time. And, knowing that his girlfriend would call the authorities, Adam confessed to her.”

The motion also contained details of Lynch’s troubled childhood. He left his Howth home at 15, working and living with an older woman.

He later emigrated to the US, married, and began a dog-walking business in San Francisco. He worked 100 hours a week for nine years to 2009, according to his lawyer. In 2005, he was treated for testicular cancer. The following year, he was diagnosed with depression and admitted to a psychiatric hospital. He broke up with his wife.

“Eventually, not surprisingly, Adam ‘snapped’,” wrote lawyer Ronald Gainor. “He abruptly stopped working, handed over to his ex-wife the company he helped create and his home, and soon began the bank robberies.”