Parents of murdered Ball State student satisfied with plea deal

MUNCIE, Ind. -- The parents of a Ball State University student fatally shot during a robbery say they are satisfied with the plea agreement under which a man admitted to being the triggerman.\nDamien Sanders pleaded guilty Monday to murder and armed robbery charges for the March 7, 2004, death of 20-year-old Karl Harford of Carmel.\nIn exchange for Sanders' guilty plea, prosecutors dropped other charges and agreed they would not seek a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.\nSanders, 23, of Muncie, faces a sentence of 45 years to 65 years in prison on the murder charge and up to 20 years on the armed robbery conviction. Delaware Circuit Court Judge Marianne Vorhees scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 4.\nHarford's parents said they were optimistic Sanders will get the maximum sentence.\n"There's nothing that's enough. But at least Damien's off the streets," Livia Harford said.\nPotential jurors for Sanders' trial had arrived at the courthouse Monday for questioning when the plea agreement was finalized.\nDefense attorney Louis Denney said after the hearing that he believed the possibility of avoiding life in prison played a role in Sanders deciding to plead guilty.\n"He decided it was in his best interests," Denney said.\nDenney said co-defendant Brandon Patterson hoped to assign a greater share of the blame for Harford's shooting on Sanders.\nPatterson has pleaded not guilty to murder charges and is awaiting trial.\nSanders testified during Monday's hearing that he shot Harford, but that he and the others, none of whom were Ball State students, had intended only to rob him.\nSanders said he met Harford at the party a few blocks from campus and that he, Patterson and a 14-year-old male accomplice left the party about 5 a.m. with Harford and they drove about two miles to a house on the city's east side where Sanders formerly lived.\nSanders testified Patterson -- who had Sanders' handgun -- pulled the gun on Harford and tried to rob him. Harford resisted and Sanders joined the fight, eventually taking the gun from Patterson and shooting Harford.\nAsked during the hearing how he knew Harford was dead, Sanders replied, "He didn't move."\nAuthorities said the attackers netted just $2 in the robbery, after which they put Harford's body in the back seat of his car. The car was then abandoned in an alley where the body was found several hours later.\nTom Harford, the slain student's father, and his wife were among about 20 relatives and friends in court as Sanders pleaded guilty.\nTom Harford said the plea was "not really a surprise to us because I thought he was guilty all along. Just sad it took so long (for him) to admit it"