Release Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 5:00 p.m.
Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Michael Edward Howcroft, 26 years old, previously residing in the 1100 block of Hornet Court, Virginia Beach, Virginia, was sentenced today by Circuit Court Judge Patricia L. West to 87 years and 5 months in the Virginia Department of Corrections on convictions of Robbery, Use of a Firearm and Violation of Probation. The Court suspended 40 years of the sentence conditioned upon supervised probation and 80 years good behavior upon release from confinement.
The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on September 6, 2008, the defendant and a co-defendant, Quentin Morgan, went to the apartment of the victim, Hunter Abed, under the guise of selling him narcotics. The two did not have any drugs to sell, however, and planned to rob Mr. Abed at gunpoint. Howcroft, a friend of the victim, had told Morgan that Mr. Abed had a large amount of cash, was unarmed, and would not resist the robbery. He directed Morgan to the victim’s apartment and assured the victim that they had the drugs in order to gain entry. Once inside, Morgan produced a handgun and demanded the victim’s money. Mr. Abed struggled with Morgan and was shot. Morgan took the victim’s money and fled. Howcroft did nothing to assist the victim. He also fled the apartment and was apprehended a block away. Mr. Abed died at the scene.
During today’s sentencing hearing Howcroft continued to deny that he knew the victim would be robbed and that the co-defendant was armed.
Howcroft’s prior criminal history includes one felony conviction for Carnal Knowledge of a Minor in 2005 and misdemeanor drug and alcohol offenses.
Associate Commonwealth’s Attorney Sara R. Chandler and Senior Commonwealth’s Attorney Charles D. Griffith, Jr. prosecuted the case. Please call Amanda Herman if additional information is desired.
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