Release Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 9:30 a.m.
Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Jarell Antuan Keys, 18 years old, previously residing in the 2400 block of Townfield Lane, Virginia Beach, Virginia was found guilty by a jury on March 27, 2009, of one (1) count of Robbery, one (1) count of Attempted Robbery, six (6) counts of Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Robbery, four (4) counts of Abduction, one (1) count of Conspiracy, and one (1) count of Wearing a Mask. The jury recommended that Keys serve a total of thirty-five (35) years in the Virginia State Penitentiary. The Honorable Edward W. Hanson accepted the jury verdict but will pronounce a final sentence at a hearing scheduled for June 1, 2009.
The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that just after midnight on September 6, 2008, at the Food Lion on General Booth Boulevard and Dam Neck Road, four masked men forced an employee who was outside, back into the store. The employee was struck in the face and his nose was broken. Four employees were forced to lie on the floor at gunpoint while the men took money. The employees were then forced to crawl on their hands and knees from the front of the store to the back of the store. Once at the back of the store they were forced to lie down again, and the manager was taken to the back door at gunpoint, where he was forced to disarm an alarm. Jarell Keys later confessed his involvement in the incident to the police.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Commonwealth’s Attorney S. Catherine Dodson and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Joseph A. DiNonno. If additional information is desired please call Amanda D. Herman at (757) 385-8641.
Similar Press Releases: abduction, Harvey Bryant, Robbery
