‘Dr Pepper Bandit’ arraignment continued

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT BEACH -- Marc Allen Lewis, the so-called “Dr Pepper Bandit,”

continued to receive support from friends and family members, who

occupied three rows in a Harbor Justice Center courtroom Friday morning

at his scheduled arraignment.

The hearing, however, was postponed until Nov. 17.

Lewis, 31, was arrested Oct. 11 outside his Irvine apartment for

allegedly robbing 13 liquor and convenience stores throughout the county

over a span of two months.

But police, as well as close family members and friends, said they

could not identify the motive for Lewis’ alleged behavior. He had a job,

came from an affluent family and has been described by friends as a

“gentle, sweet and kind person.”

“It’s really interesting,” said Costa Mesa Police Lt. John

FitzPatrick. “There were no drugs involved, either.”

Lewis’ friends said he had been depressed before the string of

robberies began in August.

They said he was a graduate of Newport Harbor High School, received an

associate’s degree from Orange Coast College and went on to pursue a

bachelor’s degree in architecture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which he

did not complete.

Lewis’ mother, who asked to remain anonymous, said Friday that she is

concerned about her son’s psychological well-being.

“We need to make sure he gets the required treatment,” she said. “But

first, the legal issues will have to be settled.”

Meanwhile, she said, Lewis is spending his time in jail reading plenty

of science fiction.

His friends have set up a support group for him. Shanty Molnar, a high

school friend, said she is putting together an e-mail network for

friends.

“I’m posting visitation lists there so we can take turns to see him,”

she said. “It’s going to be a long haul, and we don’t want him to lose

hope.”

Lewis’ ex-wife, Leigh Parker, and mother-in-law, Vivian Tondreault,

drove from Long Beach to show their support as well.

“I still love him,” said Parker, who has known Lewis since she was 12

years old. “He’s still like a part of our family.”