Press release: 707(c) W&I motion to try minor as an adult, Edmund Saunders, August 1, 2001

District Attorney Jan Scully announced today that Edmund Saunders would be tried as an adult for a home invasion robbery and a separate residential burglary.

On 9/4/00 at 1a.m. Saunders, then 17, and two male accomplices sneaked into the Rancho Cordova residence of the 77 year-old male victim while he slept. The victim, who lived alone, awoke and noticed the forced entry to his sliding glass door. Saunders leapt out of the shadows and punched the surprised victim in the face - knocking him to the floor. The injured and bleeding victim was placed on a chair and tied up by the three suspects. They bound his hands with a nylon rope that they brought. After they placed a blanket over the man's head, they cut the phone cord to the only phone in the house. The robbers took money, jewelry, and other valuables. The terrified victim was left tied up as the three suspects drove away in his car. Fortunately, the victim was able to untie himself after twenty minutes and summon the police. The Highway Patrol caught Saunders that night driving the victim's car with both accomplices as passengers.

Two nights before the home invasion robbery, Saunders burglarized the Rancho Cordova residence of a 65 year-old lady while she slept. Saunders even stole property from the bedroom that the lady was sleeping in.

Deputy District Attorney Richard Yenovkian stated, "Saunders' record started at age 13. His pattern is to select vulnerable victims by stealing from the elderly and sexually molesting the young. The next residence he enters will be State Prison".