Delaware News

Smyrna Man Sentenced for Robbery of Amish Couple

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, February 1, 2013



Dover – Attorney General Beau Biden today announced that a Smyrna man received a lengthy prison sentence for attempting to rob an Amish couple at gunpoint last July.

            “We’ll always pursue harsh penalties for those who commit crime with guns,” Biden said.  “Society is a safer place with this dangerous criminal behind bars.”

On July 15, 2012, Mark Carter, age 46, confronted the couple at a rural intersection near Hartly while they were riding home in their horse and buggy.  Carter pulled his vehicle in front of them, exited the car with a gun and threatened to shoot them unless they turned over cash.  When no money was provided, Carter returned to his car and left the scene.  Police were immediately notified of the incident, along with a description of Carter’s vehicle, and pulled him over shortly afterward, finding a loaded handgun in his possession.

Carter pled guilty on December 6, 2012 to 2 counts of Attempted Robbery, one count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and one count of Burglary.  Yesterday, Carter was sentenced by Kent County Superior Court Judge Robert Young to 32 years in prison, followed by several years of probation. 

At the time of his arrest, Carter was serving parole and probation for multiple previous convictions.  These include a life sentence, for which he was later paroled, for a 1985 home invasion and armed robbery during which he tied up a victim, stole a car, and committed additional robberies in Maryland.  After his parole was granted, Carter committed a series of new burglary offenses in Delaware for which he was convicted in 2001, and while serving this sentence he was convicted of Assault in a Detention Facility for an April, 2005 incident in which he severely beat a fellow inmate.  Carter had most recently been released from prison in 2011.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General R. David Favata. 

Read the July 15, 2012 Delaware State Police news release announcing Carter’s arrest at http://dsp.delaware.gov/news%20release/July%202012/07162012troopersmakearrestofmanwhoattemptedtorobanamishcouple.shtml.

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Smyrna Man Sentenced for Robbery of Amish Couple

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, February 1, 2013



Dover – Attorney General Beau Biden today announced that a Smyrna man received a lengthy prison sentence for attempting to rob an Amish couple at gunpoint last July.

            “We’ll always pursue harsh penalties for those who commit crime with guns,” Biden said.  “Society is a safer place with this dangerous criminal behind bars.”

On July 15, 2012, Mark Carter, age 46, confronted the couple at a rural intersection near Hartly while they were riding home in their horse and buggy.  Carter pulled his vehicle in front of them, exited the car with a gun and threatened to shoot them unless they turned over cash.  When no money was provided, Carter returned to his car and left the scene.  Police were immediately notified of the incident, along with a description of Carter’s vehicle, and pulled him over shortly afterward, finding a loaded handgun in his possession.

Carter pled guilty on December 6, 2012 to 2 counts of Attempted Robbery, one count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and one count of Burglary.  Yesterday, Carter was sentenced by Kent County Superior Court Judge Robert Young to 32 years in prison, followed by several years of probation. 

At the time of his arrest, Carter was serving parole and probation for multiple previous convictions.  These include a life sentence, for which he was later paroled, for a 1985 home invasion and armed robbery during which he tied up a victim, stole a car, and committed additional robberies in Maryland.  After his parole was granted, Carter committed a series of new burglary offenses in Delaware for which he was convicted in 2001, and while serving this sentence he was convicted of Assault in a Detention Facility for an April, 2005 incident in which he severely beat a fellow inmate.  Carter had most recently been released from prison in 2011.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General R. David Favata. 

Read the July 15, 2012 Delaware State Police news release announcing Carter’s arrest at http://dsp.delaware.gov/news%20release/July%202012/07162012troopersmakearrestofmanwhoattemptedtorobanamishcouple.shtml.

# # #

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.