Robber will face time in prison
By Aaron Moore
Published in News on August 9, 2012 1:46 PM
After pleading guilty last month, Alfonzo Mack will spend as many as 125 months in prison in connection with the 2010 home invasion of an elderly couple in the Hood Swamp community.
Mack, of Leslie Street, was 18 at the time of the crime in November 2010. He was arrested with Travis Antonia Harris Jr., 19, of Leslie Street, shortly after the robbery. Bakari Maurice Teachey, 21, of 105 Daryl Drive, was arrested last year for allegedly being involved.
Police said the suspects forcefully entered the home on Central Heights Road, brandished a shotgun, struck George Peele, 78, on the head and pushed his wife, Mary, 76, against a wall. They also stole cash and firearms.
Police arrested Mack and Harris after a foot pursuit. All cash and property were returned to the homeowners, who have since made a full recovery.
Superior Court Judge Arnold Jones sentenced Mack to 25-39 months in prison for assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and 65-86 months for armed robbery. Jones also recommended Mack for psychological counseling due to his young age.
Mack's defense argued that, although guilty, he was under tremendous peer pressure from the other two suspects. Mack's family also told Jones that he was raised with better morals and that he was "not the monster that's portrayed."
Although Jones also read several letters from family and friends that he said portrayed Mack as having a moral, faith-based upbringing, he said that was more concerning because Mack should have known better.
"You were raised to have a conscience," he told Mack. "You were raised to respect other people. You were raised to respect life."