Crime & Safety

Landover Man Pleads Guilty to Robbery Spree

Henry Sanders faces 55 years in prison for three 2011 robberies in Prince George's County. He awaits trial for Montgomery County kidnappings.

A Landover man faces up to 55 years in prison after pleading guilty in Prince George's County Circuit Court this past Friday to a series of Hyattsville-area robberies which took place during an alleged robbery spree which spanned Prince George's and Montgomery counties in November 2011.

Henry Sanders, 51, of the 3500 block of Brightseat Road in Landover, was arrested by Montgomery County Police in late November 2011 on charges related to three seperate carjackings which occurred near the Westfield Shopping Center in Wheaton. 

Relying on security camera images and victim identifications, Prince George's County and Hyattsville city police investigators were then able to link Sanders to a series of robberies in the Hyattsville and Mount Rainier area during the same time period.

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Four of the victims, three in Wheaton and one in Mount Rainier, were above the age of 70.

“Mr. Sanders robbed several elderly citizens at knife point and I am pleased that he is being held accountable for his crimes,” said State's Attorney for Prince George's County Angela Alsobrooks in a press release announcing the guilty pleas.  “Protecting our most vulnerable populations is paramount to me and our citizens can rest assured that Mr. Sanders will not be terrorizing our community any longer."

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Sanders has so far pled guilty to robbery and second degree assault charges stemming from a Nov. 18, 2011 robbery of a 79-year-old man in Mount Rainier. According to the State's Attorney for Prince George's County, Sanders approached the victim and asked for a ride under the pretense that he needed to visit his mother at a nearby hospital. While en route to the hospital, Sanders began hitting his victim in the face before robbing the elderly man of his wallet and credit cards, which were later used at a Shell Gas station in Beltsville. 

Sanders also pled guilty to charges stemming from a Nov. 20, 2011 armed robbery during which prosecutors say Sanders approached his victim at the Hyattsville Home Depot and asked for a ride to a nearby metro station. Once en route, Sanders allegedly brandished a knife and ordered his victim to drive to a nearby bank and withdraw money. The victim was able to run away as they stood at the ATM. 

Sanders also pled guilty to charges stemming from a Nov. 25, 2011 robbery in Prince George's county during which prosecutors say Sanders brandished a box cutter while demanding a woman's purse as she walked back to her car.

Each of the victims identified Sanders as their attacker. 

Sanders' trial for the is set to begin in March.

The sentencing for the three Prince George's County incidents which Sanders pled guilty to is scheduled for May 17.


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