Casino 'Mugger' Was Really Sleepwalking: Lawyer

A man accused of an attempted mugging at a Connecticut casino can't be blamed for his actions, his lawyer says: He was sleepwalking. Winston Riley is accused of trying to rob a woman at knifepoint in a casino elevator. After she pushed him away, he ran for it, but surveillance cameras tracked him down, police say. The 27-year-old's lawyer is planning a "medical defense" in the case, saying his client has a history of sleepwalking, the Norwich Bulletin reports.

Lawyer Nicholas D'Amato says that Riley was awakened by the commotion in the elevator; confused, he fled. D'Amato acknowledges that it's "not going to be an easy defense to present," but it's "a legitimate medical condition." Police cite a "momentary lapse of judgement" on Riley's part. But "here’s a guy who’s (27), no criminal record, married,’" D'Amato says. "Do you honestly think he woke up one morning, drove across the state and decided to rob a woman"—particularly with cameras everywhere? Riley confessed, but "did not know why he did it," police say. (More casino stories.)