Release Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 5 p.m.
Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Donte Terell Patterson, 20 years old, previously residing in the 1700 block of Minnows Court in Virginia Beach was found guilty by a jury of two (2) counts of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony; two (2) counts of Robbery; two (2) counts of Robbery With Use of Gun or Simulated gun; four (4) counts of Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony; and two (2) counts of Wearing a Mask in Public. The jury recommended a sentence of forty (40) years and a $5,000 fine. Judge A. Joseph Canada will formally sentence the defendant on June 9, 2009.
The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that in the early morning hours of June 11, 2007, the defendant and two friends entered a 7-11 store located at 1761 Virginia Beach Boulevard in Virginia Beach. They were wearing masks and had guns. The men pointed the guns at two store clerks and demanded money from the cash registers. The defendant proceeded to take money from the registers and cigarettes from behind the counter. The defendant and his two friends then left the store and drove to a 7-11 store located at 325 Kellam Road in Virginia Beach. They entered the store wearing masks and holding their guns. They pointed the guns at two store clerks and demanded money from the cash registers. The defendant then took money out of the registers and cigarettes from behind the counter. In a later interview with Virginia Beach police the defendant admitted his involvement in the two robberies.
Patterson has a criminal record which includes prior felony convictions for Robbery, Malicious Wounding, Grand Larceny and Escape from Police. He also has prior misdemeanor convictions for Possession of Marijuana, Trespassing and Petit Larceny.
The two co-defendants plead guilty but have not yet been sentenced.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Kristin L. Paulding prosecuted the case along with Senior Commonwealth’s Attorney Catherine Dodson. Please call Amanda Herman if additional information is desired.
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