Pill Crazy, Mike Royko’s Son Gets 30 Months For Bank Robbery
Rob Royko, son of the famous late Chicago columnist Mike Royko, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for an attempted bank robbery in 2005. What’s significant about this case (other than the son of a famous father gone wrong theme) is that Rob had problems with drugs and drink for years, was diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder, suddenly began taking a ton of pills (including Zyprexa, Depakote, Valium and Vicodin) and, in his 50s, committed his first crime–trying to rob a bank. He claims he was taking over 600 pills a month right before he attempted to knock over a bank, an amount that would surely drive anyone crazy if it didn’t kill them first. Rob also apparently went off the Zyprexa a week before his crime after feeling suicidal (there are reports of suicidality connected with Zyprexa use, although with so many pills in his system it could’ve been any of them). The stunning thing is that the pills, he claims, were all prescribed to him. Royko showed alleged records of his scrips to a TV reporter.
Anyway, a federal court found that Royko’s defense of diminished capacity could not be used in a federal case (I’m not sure why since it’s allowed on a state level) and Royko was found guilty. He’ll get to spend 30 months in a federal prison, although by federal standards his sentence is pretty light.
I don’t often find myself sympathizing with criminals, but in Royko’s case it sure does sound as if he was pill crazy. Why a federal court cannot allow a diminished capacity defense is beyond me.
Related posts:
Posted in Furious Seasons