Convicted Bank Robber Arrested for Valentine’s Day Robbery
Donald “Doc” Bennett, an 83-year-old convicted felon who served more than thirty years in prison for a string of robberies in the 1980s, was arrested by the F.B.I. in connection with a recent series of robberies in the Chicagoland area. Bennet was arrested, along with his alleged accomplice Edward Binert, after the two are accused of robbing a Chase bank in Hickory Hills, Illinois on Valentine’s Day and taking around $7,000 from the financial institution. Binert apparently admitted to the robbery after his arrest, stating that he had met the now-octogenarian while the two were in a prison in Michigan. The F.B.I. believes that Bennet, who was released from prison in 2020, is connected to seven other bank robberies in the Chicagoland area since June, with one robbery in Oak Lawn netting that criminal over $30,000.
Elderly Suspects Present Unique Challenges in the Criminal Justice System
Elderly criminal defendants often present unique issues to courts and many lawyers have little experience or struggle to adequately represent this demographic of clients. Studies suggest that elderly people commit less crime, but there are always exceptions. The Law Offices of Darryl A. Goldberg have represented many elderly clients, often in high profile cases, and are well aware of the challenges these cases can present, but also the opportunities to ethically mount an aggressive defense at every stage of a criminal case form investigation through trial or at sentencing. Perhaps most notably, attorney Goldberg represented Leo Sharp who was sentenced at 90-years-old in a massive drug conspiracy prosecution in Detroit, Michigan and thought to be the oldest federal criminal defendant in United States history. Mr. Sharp was portrayed by Clint Eastwood in the fictionalized Hollywood movie, The Mule. In addition, Mr. Goldberg has also represented many other elderly defendants in various matters, such as drug case, bank-robberies, and recently a great-grandmother who ran over an killed a pedestrian while driving. It is important that the elderly are represented by attorneys who are well versed in legal developments that affect them, such as the First Step Act that allows federal courts to reduce sentences and provide so-called compassionate release, as well as the practical realities the effect the elderly present in jails and prisons. The right attorney can best advocate for the most lenient sentences or charging considerations. Many institutions such as the Bureau of Prisons struggle to provide adequate care for these individuals with issues affecting staffing, infrastructure, access to medical services, and increasing cost to the taxpayers. Unfortunately, a serious criminal case could mean a death sentence for an elderly person accused of crime and its crucial to choose the right advocate.
