Release Date: Monday, July 27, 2009 4:55 p.m.
Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Earl Nicholas Newton, 19 years old, previously residing in the 1600 block of Boles Place in Virginia Beach was sentenced today by Circuit Court Judge Edward W. Hanson, Jr. to forty-four (44) years for Robbery, Attempt Robbery; Consipracy; two (2) counts of Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony; and Wearing a Mask in Public. Twenty-five (25) years and six (6) months were suspended.
The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on September 6, 2008, just after midnight, the Food Lion store at 1577 General Booth Boulevard, in Virginia Beach had closed. An employee, Ian Keith, left the store, but returned to retrieve his hat. As he walked to the store he was accosted by masked men, one of whom struck him in the face, breaking his nose. The men forced him back into the store. Once inside, Mr. Keith, along with employees Alex Turner, and Lauren Sershon, were forced to lie on the floor in the front of the store. They were held at gunpoint, while property was taken from Mr. Keith. One of the robbers removed property from Mr. Turner and then threw it on the floor. Meanwhile, other robbers took the manager, Jason Hallman, forced him to open the safe, and then forced him to lie down, where he was assaulted, and his property was taken. The men took money from the store safe. The men then forced the four employees at gunpoint to crawl on their hands and knees from the front of the store to the back. Once at the back, the manager was forced to punch in the security code for the back door that prevented an alarm from being activated.
One of the three co-defendants pled guilty on March 25, 2009, one was sentenced by a jury on June 10, 2009, and the other is set for a jury trial on October 28, 2009.
Senior Commonwealth’s Attorney S. Catherine Dodson and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Joe Dinonno prosecuted the case. Please call Amanda Herman if additional information is desired.
Similar Press Releases: conspiracy, felony, Harvey Bryant, Robbery
