Bank robber Jacob Hayme was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court to 17 years and eight months in federal prison. Second 1999 robbery
participant sentencedJacob Hayme says he is sorry for
the violent bank heist in KahalaBy Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.comHayme, 26, had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery, bank robbery and carrying a weapon that was used in a crime of violence.
He was the second of three bank robbers to be sentenced in federal court in the July 1999 armed robbery of the Kahala American Savings Bank.
Unlike codefendant Sean Matsunaga, who was sentenced to 22 years and seven months in federal prison on Monday, Hayme expressed remorse yesterday for his "thoughtless actions," saying nothing he could say or do could erase what happened.
In a letter to the court, he also apologized to the bank employees and customers and all those affected by the robbery.
"I deserve what's coming to me," he said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Johnson said the heist was not a typical bank robbery where the robbers go in, demand money and leave.
"This was well-planned and well-thought out," he said.
Hayme, Matsunaga, Albert Batalona and Roger Dailey arrived at the bank in stolen cars. They armed themselves with firearms and used them to threaten and intimidate. One customer was dragged by the hair and an employee ordered at gunpoint from behind a counter, Johnson said. They even had a code to signal each other when police arrived. Instead of just fleeing after they obtained money, Batalona engaged gunfire with the first police officer to arrive. Hayme contended that his gun went off accidentally when the dye pack in the stolen money exploded.
Hayme, Matsunaga and Dailey will be jointly liable for $11, 248 in restitution to American Savings Bank and one of its employees.
Batalona is currently serving life imprisonment without parole in state prison for attempted murder of the police officer.
Dailey is expected to be sentenced in June.