FRANKLIN, Ind. — An Indianapolis man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for robbing an 84-year-old man in Franklin in 2023.
Michael J. Brown pleaded guilty in April to a charge of robbery resulting in bodily injury.
In February 2023, Franklin Police Department officers responded to the Paris Estates neighborhood for a report of a robbery. Officers located an 84-year-old man who said he was assaulted and robbed in his driveway.
The man told police he was hit in the back of his head and kicked before his wallet and large amount of cash were taken. He said no weapons were used during the robbery.
The man suffered minor injures but refused medical attention and provided police with a description of the suspect, who fled the scene, and their car.
Detectives used that information to identify Brown as their suspect.
Franklin Police detectives said the victim had been at the Horseshoe casino in Shelbyville earlier that night. He said Brown followed him from the casino to his home. The victim told police when he pulled into his home and got out of his car, Brown approached him and asked for water and directions.
As the victim was talking to Brown, Brown punched him in the back of the head, knocking him on the ground, and kicked him, according to arrest documents. Then, Brown took his wallet, including $6,000 in cash, and drove away.
The victim told detectives he recognized his attacker from playing at the $25 Blackjack table at the casino. He believes Brown followed him home after he saw him win big.
During questioning, Brown admitted to the robbery and called the victim a "real nice guy," according to arrest documents. He later apologized to detectives and said he was about to be evicted because he was behind on his rent, in addition to having health issues requiring medical procedures.
“It’s hard for me to comprehend what a coward this defendant is. Not content to just rob a helpless senior citizens, he had to show his complete lack of humanity by kicking a fellow human in the head when he’s on the ground and helpless. Not just a thief, but a sadistic bully and a coward,” Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner said.
Brown told detectives the day after the robbery, he paid his landlord more than $4,000 and caught up on other bills.
Brown had a similar conviction in 2004 in a Florida case where he robbed an 84-year-old Tampa man.
