Man Convicted in Botched Holdup of Armored Car

A Superior Court jury convicted an Ontario man Friday in connection with the botched robbery of a security guard who was gravely wounded after servicing an automated teller machine in Garden Grove.

Thomas Anthony Chaney, 28, was found guilty of attempted murder, second-degree robbery, assault with a firearm and conspiracy to commit robbery, according to a court clerk.

Superior Court Judge Kathleen E. O’Leary scheduled Chaney’s sentencing for Feb. 28.

Chaney was arrested in Garden Grove last May 16, the day an armored-van holdup ended in the wounding of John Statkus, 25, of Fullerton, a guard for Wells Fargo Armored Car Services. Statkus--who was wounded in the head, arm and neck--underwent multiple operations before being released from St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton in August.

Investigators said the suspects--Chaney, Marc A. Blount, 25, of Pomona and Gilbert Green, 22, of Ontario--plotted the robbery up to five days before the incident. The men knew Statkus’ route because Chaney had once worked for Wells Fargo Armored Car Services and had driven the route.

The robbers fled without any of the $185,400 Statkus was carrying in his armored car at the time of the attack.

Blount, who prosecutors contended was the triggerman in the shooting, was convicted on charges of attempted murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. He was sentenced on Jan. 10 to 25 years in prison.

The trial for Green, who is accused of attempted murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, is pending.