Bank robbers blaming trauma of Sept. 11 attacks

[PrincessPerky]

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — A convicted bank robber is citing stress from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in a bid for less prison time, the second time the argument has been used by a bank robber in the last year.

Jason Battista, 28, is expected to be sentenced next month for robbing 15 banks in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. He faces nearly seven years in jail.

The former college baseball player, who wore white medical tape on his face during the robberies, was "impacted deeply" by the terror attacks, said his attorney, Stephen Seeger. He'll base his argument on a psychological evaluation of his client.

"He was unable to function properly because of what he saw," Seeger said. "The drug use seemed to spiral out of control after 9-11. He wasn't the same individual."

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