GOLDEN — The final suspect in last summer’s Burger King robbery and murder has been found guilty on all counts, including first-degree murder.
A Jefferson County jury deliberated less than a day before returning its verdicts this afternoon against Lindell Mark Sample, 19.
Sample was the driver of the getaway car in the July 15, 2007, incident that resulted in the shooting death of night cook Celia Meza, 31.
In addition to murder, the counts included reckless manslaughter, second-degree kidnapping, assault, aggravated robbery, felony theft, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and robbery.
On June 12, Thomas Johns, 18, was found guilty of 13 charges, and Anthony Lowe, 22, was found guilty of 14 charges — including first-degree murder — in connection with the botched robbery of the Burger King at West 64th Avenue and Ward Road.
All three men were former Burger King employees. Testimony during the trials showed that they plotted with the night manager, Anthony Cole, 24, to rob the restaurant.
Lowe forced Meza into the freezer and shot her in the back when she called 911. Johns, who prosecutors said was the mastermind, staged an assault on Cole and took $1,800 from the restaurant safe.
Cole agreed to testify against Lowe and Johns in exchange for dropping a first-degree murder charge to second-degree murder. He will be sentenced July 10 to 48 years in prison.
Lowe and Johns will be sentenced on July 15, and Sample on Aug. 7. All three face mandatory life terms without the possibility of parole.
Ann Schrader: 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com
