No Deals Struck in ‘A’s Bandit’ Bank Heists Case

No plea-bargain agreement was reached Friday between David W. Malley, the accused “A’s Bandit,” and the U.S. attorney’s office despite Malley’s statement this week that he was ready to plead guilty to eight to 10 counts of robbery.

Malley had said in an interview published in Friday’s Times that he was set to plead guilty because the government had “a slew of evidence,” including his handwriting on demand notes and his fingerprints that linked him to some of the robberies.

Asst. U.S. Atty. Patrick O’Toole said Malley is free to “unconditionally” plead guilty to eight counts of bank robbery on which he is to be tried, but has not done so. Malley’s trial is set for Oct. 16.

“If he wants to plead guilty with no conditions attached--no deals or anything--he can do so at any time,” he said. “We can’t stop him.”

By pleading guilty to eight counts, Malley could be sentenced to six to 12 years in prison. Malley, 22, told The Times he is willing to do so in order to get out of prison before he turns 30.

O’Toole said the government has not decided whether to try Malley on the other 20 counts of robbery for which he has been charged. The bank robberies, called the “A’s Bandit” series because the thief sometimes wore an Oakland A’s baseball cap during the crimes, started in February and ended with Malley’s arrest in April, police said.

David Bartick, Malley’s attorney, said he and his client are preparing for trial but declined to comment further. Malley could not be reached for comment.