After deliberating about a day, a jury on July 15 found the so-called “Dapper Bandit” guilty of robbing a US Bank in Point Loma on Dec. 27 and also of holding up a check-cashing business. John Richard Martinez, 42, had no reaction after hearing the guilty verdicts from the nine-woman, three-man jury in San Diego Superior Court. Judge Frank Brown set sentencing for Sept. 16, and Martinez remains in custody without bail. He faces at least 25 years to life in prison because of the three-strikes law. Martinez was convicted of robbery in 1992 and a weapons charge in 2007. Martinez has numerous tattoos on his face, head and neck. To disguise himself, Martinez wore a black turtleneck sweater, which covered his neck, and a designer hat that was tipped so low it concealed facial tattoos. He also used make-up to cover other tattoos, said Deputy District Attorney Melissa Vasel. The trial was brief. It started July 13 and was given to the jury the next day. Jurors deliberated for six hours total before rendering its verdict. The jury deadlocked 9-3 on the gun charge that alleged Martinez carried a deadly or dangerous weapon during the robberies. The jury forewoman told the judge they deadlocked because they were divided about the type of weapon used. The weapon was described in court as an air gun. The forewoman said jurors couldn’t agree if it was a dangerous weapon. Martinez faces other bank robbery charges in Fresno County.








