Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Ronald Lee Smallwood, 26 years old, who previously resided in the 900 block of Green Street in Portsmouth, Virginia, was sentenced today by Circuit Court Judge Fredrick B. Lowe for Armed Robbery (Attempt), Malicious Wounding, Use of a Firearm, and Possession of a Firearm by a Violent Felon. Judge Lowe sentenced Smallwood to 28 years in prison with 16 years suspended, leaving 12 years to serve.
At the time that Smallwood committed these offenses, he was on court-ordered “good behavior” for Robbery from a January 2008 sentencing. These new criminal convictions were violations of his “good behavior” period, and resulted in the Court revoking prison time that was previously suspended. Therefore, Judge Lowe today sentenced Smallwood to an additional two (2) years and three (3) months in prison for a Violation of Probation. His total sentence today is 14 years and three (3) months in prison.
Smallwood pled guilty on November 28, 2012. Had this matter gone to trial, the Commonwealth’s evidence would have proven that on May 3, 2012, Ronald Lee Smallwood met a man in the Regency Hilltop neighborhood of Virginia Beach for a drug deal. Smallwood got into the back of the man’s car, pulled out a gun, and demanded his property. The victim struggled with Smallwood until Smallwood hit him several times with the gun. Smallwood then shot the victim in the shoulder and fled. The victim was taken to the hospital and survived. Investigating officers were able to trace the cell phone used to set up the drug deal back to Smallwood.
In addition to the previous robbery conviction as an adult, Smallwood has adjudications as a juvenile for charges of Grand Larceny of a Motor Vehicle (Attempt), Grand Larceny, and Possession of a Firearm by a Non-Violent Felon.
The case was prosecuted by Associate Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul J. Powers. Please contact Macie Pridgen if additional information is desired.