CLAYPOOL HILL, Va. — A mask apparently failed to conceal the identity of a man who robbed a Tazewell County grocery store at gunpoint.
Shaine Claude Collins, age unavailable, of Doran Bottom, will spend the rest of his life in prison in connection with the Jan. 4, 2009 armed robbery of Doran Grocery, according to Tazewell County Commonwealth Attorney Dennis Lee.
Lee said Collins was convicted by a jury on charges of robbery, breaking and entering, the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and wearing a mask during a crime. During his sentencing Tuesday, Circuit Court Judge Keary Williams sentenced Collins to a term of life in prison on the armed robbery charge, 50 years on the breaking and entering charge, and an additional three years on the firearm charge.
Lee said Collins entered the Doran Grocery wearing a homemade mask, produced a handgun, and ordered a store clerk to turn over all of the money and then lay down on the floor. However, the clerk recognized the man, Lee said.
“The clerk — even through the mask — was able to make the identification,” Lee said. “She was a very brave lady.”
Lee said Collins was a frequent customer at the store.
“She recognized his voice,” Lee said. “She recognized what she could see of his eyes, and the holes in his homemade mask. She recognized his stature and demeanor. She was pretty certain.”
Lee said Collins was initially questioned by authorities on the night of the robbery, and was arrested 10 days later.
“Subsequently, he gave a statement upon being arrested, and admitted his involvement in this,” Lee said. “During the jury trail, he recanted the statement, and indicated he had been pressured y the officers, and that he had nothing to do with the crime. Obviously, the jury decided otherwise, and he was convicted in the second part of the trial. In the sentencing phase, we presented evidence that he had previously been convicted in 2001 in Buchanan County for conspiracy, robbery and the use of a firearm. He had been involved in an armed robbery in Buchanan County.”
Lee said he was pleased with the life sentence handed down by Williams.
“We try to go after everything aggressively, but with crimes of violence and particularly crimes of violence involving firearms, we want people to understand upon arrest and conviction they will face extremely stiff sentences here in Tazewell County,” Lee said.
– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com
Local News
March 11, 2010
Armed robber gets life
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