A man who was sentenced to 85 years in prison for the March 2004 murder of Ball State University student Karl Harford was sentenced Thursday to another 10 years for crimes that were committed before Karl Harford's murder.
"We're happy to see Damien Sanders get another 10 years," said Tom Harford, Karl Harford's father. "The extra 10 years keeps our students and citizens safe. I don't think this is the kind of man we want out roaming around."
Sanders pleaded guilty to charges connected to a July 2003 arrest in Marion County. Sanders ran from police and carried a handgun without a permit, according to NewsLink Indiana.
Sanders posted bond after the 2003 arrest but skipped out on court hearings, NewsLink Indiana said.
Tom Harford said a warrant was issued for Sanders' arrest in January 2004 because he did not show up to court.
If Sanders would have showed up to court like he was supposed to, his trial would have been completed before March 2004, when Karl Harford was killed, Tom Harford said.
"I think that could have saved my son's life," he said.
Karl Harford offered a ride home to Sanders, Brandon Patterson and a juvenile after an off-campus party on March 7. The three men stole $2 from Karl Harford before shooting him.
Sanders pleaded guilty to murder and armed robbery in January 2005 and was sentenced in March to an 85-year prison sentence. Patterson was sentenced in June to 50 years in prison.
Charges against the juvenile were dropped in the summer of 2004, Tom Harford said. There was not enough evidence to prosecute him, he said.
"How can they let somebody out like that?" he said.
The juvenile should be charged with something for his connection to Karl Harford's death, Tom Harford said.
"Once he got out and got involved in all that, he blew away his chances as a juvenile as far as I'm concerned," he said.
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