Man with Extensive Criminal History Arrested for Armored Car Robbery

A man with a lengthy criminal record has been arrested for allegedly robbing an armored car at gunpoint earlier this year. Markham David Bond, 60, of Inglewood, California, was apprehended in November after robbing a Brinks courier in a Chase bank parking lot in Westchester. Bond’s arrest comes after he had been granted “compassionate release” from federal prison, a privilege usually reserved for inmates with terminal illnesses or severe medical conditions.

The incident occurred on August 18 when Bond allegedly approached a Brinks employee who was carrying a duffel bag filled with approximately $145,000 in cash. Brandishing a gun, Bond ordered the employee to the ground and threatened him before fleeing with the stolen money. The police released surveillance images of the suspect and the getaway car, which led them to locate and seize the vehicle on August 27. Inside the Chevrolet Tahoe, they discovered the stolen duffel bag and a black Las Vegas Raiders ballcap matching the one worn by the robber.

Through DNA evidence collected from the ballcap, Bond was identified as the suspect and subsequently arrested at his Inglewood residence on November 22. The arrest also resulted in the recovery of a .40-caliber pistol, a maroon-colored long-sleeve shirt similar to the one worn during the robbery, and $9,000 in cash hidden inside a refrigerator.

The United States Department of Justice revealed that Bond had previously been convicted for armed bank robbery and firearms violations in 1985 and 1995. In 1995, he was sentenced to over 46 years in prison for another armed robbery of an armored vehicle courier. However, in January 2022, Bond’s attorney petitioned for his release based on California’s “compassionate release” rule, arguing that his client’s deteriorating health rendered him non-threatening to society. Despite objections from the DOJ, Bond was granted supervised release, which he began serving as part of his original sentence.

Currently, Bond remains in jail without bail awaiting trial for the recent armored car robbery, as well as charges related to illegal gun and ammunition possession, which violated the terms of his release. If convicted on all charges, he could face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

This case highlights the controversial issue of “compassionate release” and raises questions about the criteria and process for granting such releases. Bond’s extensive criminal history and subsequent involvement in another serious crime after his release have sparked debates regarding the effectiveness and fairness of compassionate release policies.