Pardoned after 26 years in prison: now he has to go back to jail - for the same crime!

California/USA - After a criminal was released from prison after 26 years on "clemency grounds", he now has to go back to jail - for the same crime!

As reported by the New York Post , Markham David Bond (61) was found guilty of robbery at gunpoint last Thursday.

Back in August of last year, the 61-year-old robbed a courier at gunpoint in the parking lot of a bank in the US state of California.

The frightened man followed Bond's instructions and the convicted criminal managed to steal a whopping 145,000 US dollars (equivalent to 138,179 euros).

Bond was finally arrested in November of last year. During a search of his home and car, the investigators found numerous pieces of evidence that clearly linked him to the crime.

Shortly afterwards, another detail came to light: Bond had already spent a long time in prison. He was released at the beginning of 2022 after 26 years in prison on "grounds of clemency".

He was originally sentenced to 46 years and 10 months in prison. But Bond's criminal past went back even further.

His lengthy rap sheet from the 1980s and 1990s includes robberies, use of firearms in violent crimes and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

"After being given a second chance at life, this defendant unfortunately chose the path of violent crime," a U.S. Attorney said.

Sentencing for the latest robbery is set for July 11, 2025, and Bond faces the maximum statutory sentence: life in prison.

The release of a prisoner on "grounds of clemency" is a legal procedure in the USA that allows for early release if there are exceptional and compelling reasons. These include, for example, serious health problems, advanced age or special family circumstances.