A man dubbed the “Hills Bandit” was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for a series of bank robberies from Laguna Niguel to Santa Barbara.
Stephen Richard Bartlett, 54, boasts “one of the worst records I have ever seen in my years on the bench,” U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee said.
“He has been virtually a one-man crime spree,” she said, noting 14 prior felony convictions, ranging from forgery to car theft.
Bartlett, who blamed a decades-long gambling addiction for his 30-year criminal history, told the court that he was “ashamed” for falling prey to a “terrible, compulsive” disease.
“When I’m in the throes of it, I lose all perspective,” Bartlett said. “I’m an educated person, I’ve had great jobs. I can’t explain it.” Bartlett pleaded guilty in February to five bank robbery counts.
In most of the robberies, Bartlett walked up to a teller, displayed a handwritten note and demanded currency, specifying that he wanted $100, $50, and $20 bills. He also made threats that he had a gun, but no weapon was seen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Lichtman told the judge that the defendant has shown “little willingness to lead a law-abiding life.”
Gee ordered Bartlett to pay restitution of about $80,500 and serve three years of supervised release once he gets out of prison.
Bartlett was arrested Oct. 2 after a high-speed pursuit that spanned four counties, lasted some 90 minutes and involved multiple police agencies.
He eventually lost control of the pickup truck he was driving on the westbound 210 Freeway just west of the 215 Freeway and crashed alongside the freeway, with the truck rolling onto the driver’s side.
Bartlett crawled out of the passenger side door and surrendered.
Bartlett, whose driver’s license shows an address in Nevada, caused two crashes during the chase, one of them involving a California Highway Patrol vehicle, according to the CHP.
While being chased in Santa Fe Springs, he threw a gun from the vehicle that was recovered. It turned out to be a replica of a semiautomatic pistol.
Gee said Bartlett was “a danger to the community,” and told him that “you are a smart man. The tragedy of this is your life could’ve been much different.”
The “Hills Bandit” nickname came after two holdups in Laguna Hills last year.
Stephen Richard Bartlett, 54, boasts “one of the worst records I have ever seen in my years on the bench,” U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee said.
“He has been virtually a one-man crime spree,” she said, noting 14 prior felony convictions, ranging from forgery to car theft.
Bartlett, who blamed a decades-long gambling addiction for his 30-year criminal history, told the court that he was “ashamed” for falling prey to a “terrible, compulsive” disease.
“When I’m in the throes of it, I lose all perspective,” Bartlett said. “I’m an educated person, I’ve had great jobs. I can’t explain it.” Bartlett pleaded guilty in February to five bank robbery counts.
In most of the robberies, Bartlett walked up to a teller, displayed a handwritten note and demanded currency, specifying that he wanted $100, $50, and $20 bills. He also made threats that he had a gun, but no weapon was seen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Lichtman told the judge that the defendant has shown “little willingness to lead a law-abiding life.”
Gee ordered Bartlett to pay restitution of about $80,500 and serve three years of supervised release once he gets out of prison.
Bartlett was arrested Oct. 2 after a high-speed pursuit that spanned four counties, lasted some 90 minutes and involved multiple police agencies.
He eventually lost control of the pickup truck he was driving on the westbound 210 Freeway just west of the 215 Freeway and crashed alongside the freeway, with the truck rolling onto the driver’s side.
Bartlett crawled out of the passenger side door and surrendered.
Bartlett, whose driver’s license shows an address in Nevada, caused two crashes during the chase, one of them involving a California Highway Patrol vehicle, according to the CHP.
While being chased in Santa Fe Springs, he threw a gun from the vehicle that was recovered. It turned out to be a replica of a semiautomatic pistol.
Gee said Bartlett was “a danger to the community,” and told him that “you are a smart man. The tragedy of this is your life could’ve been much different.”
The “Hills Bandit” nickname came after two holdups in Laguna Hills last year.
— City News Service