Peter Klein, 50, of Aromas faces dozens of federal and state charges stemming from a year-long spree of robberies in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties - including four Gilroy banks - according to prosecutors. They were close to reaching a settlement with the defendant when he assaulted another inmate in custody, Deputy District Attorney Cindy Hendrickson said. Her office added a count of battery causing serious bodily injury to his charges, staining what had been an otherwise clean record before the robbery charges and complicating the original settlement, Hendrickson said.

Klein stands accused of 11 federal counts of armed bank robbery and 27 felony counts of false imprisonment, robbery and possession of stolen property brought against him by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.

Gilroy police arrested Klein March 27 after they were called by an off-duty San Jose police officer stopped at a red light near Chase Bank on First Street, according to police reports. The officer saw customers inside with their hands in the air and believed the situation looked suspicious.

Local prosecutors charged Klein with the Chase robbery along with six other bank robberies in Santa Clara County. Federal charges include these robberies along with four robberies in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. Klein's charges in Santa Clara County carry a maximum prison sentence of 27 years and four months, according to prosecutors.

Klein's case was continued to 8:30 a.m. Dec. 10 in Department 110 at the South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill, following an appearance in federal court later this month. In the meantime, Hendrickson said she has made an offer to Klein and his attorney regarding the battery. She would not describe that offer or the original settlement details stemming from the robbery charges. However, the battery charge will add time to the original settlement, she said.

"We're close to settling everything," she said. "Hopefully we'll have a development in December."