Release Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2009 4:50 p.m.
Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Adam Ryan Commander, 26 years old, previously residing in the 700 block of Etheridge Road, Chesapeake, Virginia, was sentenced yesterday by Circuit Court Judge William R. O’Brien to a total of thirty-six (36) years for one (1) count of Conspiracy, one (1) count of Wearing a Mask in Public and three (3) counts of Robbery. Judge O’Brien suspended twenty-seven (27) years, leaving the defendant with an active sentence of nine (9) years.
Had this matter gone to trial, the Commonwealth’s evidence would have shown that on March 20, 2008, Adam Commander donned a mask and headband with a swastika painted on it, and entered the 7-11 at 853 First Colonial Road. He wielded a machete and demanded cash from the two employees behind the counter. Both employees complied, and immediately thereafter called police. During an interview with Virginia Beach Police Detectives, Commander admitted that the person in photos from the 7-11 security system was him; however, he claimed he was too intoxicated to remember the actual robbery.
On March 21, 2008, Commander acted as a look-out during a robbery of the Ollie’s located at 1944 Laskin Road. An accomplice entered the store with a paintball gun that was spray painted black to appear to be a real firearm. While Adam Commander was outside waiting, his accomplice took about $80.00 from the cashier inside. The cashier immediately contacted the police and Commander was detained at the scene. During a search of his apartment detectives located an empty pizza box with the outline of a gun spray painted on the lid. Commander later admitted his involvement in this robbery.
Information from a witness corroborated Commander’s involvement in both events, and also indicated that proceeds from each robbery were used to purchase cocaine. During sentencing the defendant admitted his role in each robbery and admitted that he owned a machete and used it to commit the robberies on March 20, 2008.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Kari A. Kopnicky prosecuted the case. Please call Amanda Herman if additional information is desired.
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