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| Two Roanoke men admit to burglarizing Hardy home |
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Friday, August 3, 2012
By K.A. WAGONER - Staff Writer
Two Roanoke men pleaded guilty Tuesday to burglarizing a residence on Edwardsville Road in Hardy on Feb. 3.
Barry Lynn Lavender, 39, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and grand larceny in Franklin County Circuit Court.
He faces up to 30 years in prison on the charges. His sentencing hearing is set for Sept. 13.
The second defendant, Charles Wesley Redman, 40, pleaded guilty Tuesday to grand larceny.
Two charges, breaking and entering and property destruction, were dismissed against Redman as part of a plea agreement, according to Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Deatherage.
Redman was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but all the time was suspended, Deatherage said. Redman was also sentenced to three years probation and ordered not to have any contact with Lavender or the victim.
The prosecution made the agreement with Redman in exchange for his truthful testimony against Lavender, Deatherage said.
"He (Redman) was fully cooperative with law enforcement from the beginning, and it was clear from the evidence that he just gave Lavender a ride (on the day of the burglary)."
On the day of the burglary, a neighbor called dispatch about 12:45 p.m. to report a suspicious person in a brown Honda parked at the victim's residence, said Lt. Todd Maxey with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. The neighbor gave the dispatcher the vehicle description and license plate number.
In the meantime, the neighbor stopped to ask the man why he was parked in the driveway, Maxey said. While the neighbor walked toward the residence, the man in the Honda drove away.
The neighbor then observed another man leaving the residence with what appeared to be a pillowcase, Maxey said. As the neighbor followed, the second man returned to the house and apparently dumped the items inside the pillowcase. Then the man exited the residence again through a basement window.
When Deputies R.L. Davis and J.H. Watkins arrived, they took the second man, Lavender, into custody, Maxey said.
A short time later, Redman, the driver of the Honda, was arrested by Vinton police officers. |
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