Contributions Pour In for Grandmother Accused of Attempted Robbery

Mary Ruth Blanco’s alleged short-lived career as a failed armed robber initially netted her little besides a couple nights in the slammer and a mug shot. But now that her tragic story is out, the money is pouring in from kind hearts around the country who were touched by the tale of the grandma and the gun.

Blanco, 71, was released Tuesday on $5,000 bail pending her arraignment on charges of attempted second-degree robbery with the special circumstances of using a gun. She was greeted with a hug from her husband upon release and was quickly guided to a waiting car by relatives as a crush of media pursued her.

The new grandmother allegedly tried to hold up a West Covina self-serve gas station Saturday using a relative’s vintage .32-caliber Colt automatic handgun.

The attendant, safe behind the bulletproof glass, called authorities and noted Blanco’s license plate number while the longtime foster parent drove off empty-handed, police said. Authorities suspect that the woman with a 2 1/2-week-old granddaughter acted out of desperation over a foreclosable debt on her home and an IRS lien on her husband’s paltry monthly pension.

Now, the same public that responds with cash to media blitzes about life’s victims--the people who send checks to children victimized by burglars and who empty piggy banks for stranded animals--is answering another cry for help, this time from an unlikely perpetrator.

“I’ve never really done this before, but she really touched me,” said donor Josephine Fuentes, a 49-year-old nurse from Hollywood. “People should be more compassionate. Rather than just putting her in jail, people should band together to help.”

At her appearance Tuesday in Citrus Municipal Court in West Covina, Blanco appeared emotionless, outfitted in a standard-issue blue prison uniform, with a plastic ponytail holder sweeping her gray hair off her face. The case was continued until May 22 on the request of her court-appointed attorney, who said after the proceeding that his goal is to avoid jail time for his sickly client.

Under mandatory sentencing guidelines, Blanco faces a minimum prison term of about four years, said David Demerjian, head deputy district attorney.

Although a La Puente bail bondsman had offered to pay her bail himself, with no collateral, Blanco’s nephew stepped in to post the bond.

“We are very grateful for the underlying warmth of the community,” said her nephew, Steve Angelo. “I think there has been a tremendous opening of the heart.”

Blanco’s daughter, meanwhile, steeled herself against the throng of reporters packed into the courtroom for what has become a sensational story about how financial strain can push even a kindhearted grandmother over the edge.

“She is really sorry about it. She doesn’t know what made her do it,” Sandra Blanco said. “Obviously, she was very distraught.”

People from California, New Mexico, Ohio and elsewhere said they could understand her plight. From early Tuesday, Sgt. Dennis Edwards said, the West Covina police station was flooded with calls from well-meaning people.

Because it would be improper for the police, who investigated the crime, to help collect funds for the person accused of committing it, Edwards said, he has been referring calls to one of Blanco’s relatives. A fund was also set up Tuesday: The Mary Blanco Trust Fund, c/o United Methodist Church, 718 S. Azusa Ave., West Covina.

Edwards acknowledged that there was even some sympathy around the police station.

“You can’t help but wonder what the correct resolution would be,” he said. “The feelings are mixed. On the one hand it’s important that we try to resolve community problems--a person who in our opinion acted out of desperation--but on the other hand there was a serious crime committed.”

Tax attorney Louis Samuel, 62, of West Hills said he is more than happy to offer his services, free of charge, because he has seen plenty of people crack under the strain of IRS pressure. “She was driven to take desperate measures, foolish though they may be,” he said. “I just felt like it was my turn to do my good deed for the day.”