Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Jon Demetrius Morgan, 22 years old, who previously resided in the 800 block of Sedley Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia, was sentenced today by Circuit Court Judge Les L. Lilley for charges of Armed Robbery, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Use of a Firearm, Wearing a Mask in Public, and Provide False Information to a Police Officer. Judge Lilley sentenced Morgan to 16 years and 12 months in the Department of Corrections with all suspended except ten (10) years and six (6) months to serve.
Morgan was found guilty by Judge Lilley after a trial on March 13, 2012. The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that shortly after 12:00 p.m. on October 23, 2011, Jon Demetrius Morgan approached a woman who was sitting in her car in the Twin Canal neighborhood of Virginia Beach. He covered his face with a mask and pointed a handgun at the victim, demanding money. The victim struggled with Morgan until he struck her in the face with the gun and threatened to shoot her. He made off with her purse containing $390.00 cash.
The victim called 911 and gave investigating officers a description of Morgan. She recalled that the robber wore a black and red plaid jacket. A few hours later, the victim called detectives after seeing a man who looked like the suspect who robbed her. When officers approached him, Morgan provided a false name to police and fled the area. He was eventually taken into custody in North Carolina with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. The red and black plaid jacket containing an identification card of “Jon Demetrius Morgan” and the victim’s empty purse were recovered from nearby apartments in Twin Canal where Morgan had visited shortly after the robbery.
Morgan’s criminal record began when he was a juvenile and includes convictions for Burglary, Larceny from the Person, Conspiracy, Grand Larceny, Carry Concealed Weapon, Obstructing Justice, Resisting Arrest, Concealment, Possession of Marijuana, Violation of Probation, and two (2) counts each of Failure to Appear and Driving without a License.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Colin D. Stolle and Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney M. Janeice Robinson. Please contact Macie Pridgen if additional information is desired.