DEON MARKS, a one-eyed bandit who pleaded guilty to a series of criminal charges, was on Monday sentenced to 51 years’ imprisonment by Providence Magistrate Leron Dailey.Marks changed his original innocent plea to guilty on five counts of armed robbery, one count of being in possession of an unlicensed gun and ammunition, and one count of shooting at police and at a licensed firearm holder.

He was sentenced on each of the charges, but they will run concurrently, so he will only actually serve five years in prison.

The Lot 156 Kaneville, East Bank Demerara resident, a father of one, lost his left eye in a shootout with police at Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

On Marks’s first court appearance, on December 18 at the Providence Court, he was refused bail after denying all of the charges; but he faced the indictable charge of shooting at the police officer.
However, at Monday’s court proceedings, Police Prosecutor Michael Grant applied the Administration of Justice Act (AJA) to the indictable charge.

In pleading guilty to this charge, Marks explained to the court that he wished to change all of his past pleas. The charges were re-read to him, and he nodded his head to each and said, “Guilty, Madame.”

One charge detailed that on December 13, at Grove Housing Scheme, EBD, while being in the company of others and being armed with a gun, he robbed Cheryl Embrack of a quantity of gold jewellery, two cellular phones and her stereo set, to a total value of $252,000.

Another charge detailed that Marks discharged a loaded firearm at three police officers with intent to disfigure, maim, or cause them grievous bodily harm.

Another charge detailed that, on the day in question, Marks had in his possession a .32 pistol and 10 matching live rounds of ammunition when he was not the holder of a firearm licence.

Another charge detailed that on December 3, at Golden Grove, EBD, while being armed with a hand gun, Marks robbed Collin Semple of two cellular phones valued at $31,000, and looted the phone of Kamacie Semple, valued at $20,000.

On November 20, at Grove, EBD, Marks allegedly held Dracaena Melville at gunpoint and relieved her of all her gold jewellery, totalling more than $250,000.

Marks was also charged with allegedly robbing Jacqueline Melville of her gold jewellery, her cellular phone, and cash to the total value of $845,000.

In addition, he was charged with discharging a loaded firearm at Arlington Samuels with intent to disfigure, maim, or cause him grievous bodily harm. This act was committed when Samuels, a licensed firearm holder, went to the rescue of the Melvilles.

Magistrate Daily instituted the maximum penalties attached to the charges, citing that the matters were gun-related and she needed to prohibit others who contemplated committing similar offences.

Marks was sentenced to 5 years for each of the five counts of robbery; three years each for the two counts of being in possession of an unlicensed gun and ammunition; and five years for each of the four counts of discharging a loaded firearm.

Informed of his 51-year sentence, Marks began to laugh; and when told that he would only be serving a maximum of 5 years, since the sentences would run concurrently, he began to laugh louder.