Mark Sanders, Armed Robbery, Pennsylvania 2011

PHILADELPHIA — In a shocking turn of events, a jury has convicted Mark Sanders, 23, of Philadelphia, of armed robbery, leaving the defendant blind. The charges stem from a botched motorcycle heist that went horribly wrong on June 26, 2011.

According to testimony, Sanders and two accomplices responded to a Craigslist ad for a dirt bike for sale. The group met the seller at an agreed-upon location on Green Street in Philadelphia. However, instead of completing the transaction, Sanders pulled out a firearm and ordered the seller and his companions to get on the ground.

The would-be thieves made off with the dirt bike, but their escape was short-lived. A relative of the seller's, who was at home across the street, witnessed the robbery and intervened. When Sanders refused to stop and instead pointed his gun at the seller's relative, the relative fired his own handgun, striking Sanders in the temple and leaving him blind.

The jury deliberated for just two hours before delivering a guilty verdict against Sanders. He faces a potential maximum sentence of life in prison, as well as a mandatory five-year sentence.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department, with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania handling the prosecution.

U.S. District Court Judge Juan R. Sanchez has yet to schedule a sentencing hearing. The outcome of this case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of violent crime, and the importance of community intervention in preventing such tragedies.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Arlene Fisk and Eric Boden played key roles in the prosecution of this case. The verdict is a testament to their hard work and dedication to justice.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/jury-convicts-blind-defendant-robbery