Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 24, 1993 TAG: 9307240148
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Short
Thomas A. Newby, 20, of West Street was indicted in March on charges he robbed an undercover informant of $130 on Oct. 29.
While Circuit Judge Duane Mink ruled there was sufficient evidence to convict Newby on the robbery charge, he dismissed a separate charge of shooting into an occupied vehicle, according to Newby's lawyer, Robbie Jenkins.
Newby was found guilty of using a firearm to commit a robbery. He pleaded innocent to all the charges.
Jenkins said Mink delayed sentencing Newby, who is being held in the Radford City Jail, until a presentence report is returned in September.
At a lower court hearing earlier this year, the informant - who is not being identified at the request of police - testified that Newby pointed a gun at him and threatened him after the informant gave him a ride and asked about buying crack cocaine. Newby told him he could give him $20 worth then.
Newby went inside a trailer, came back outside and the informant saw the gun when Newby opened the car door, according to testimony.
The informant said Newby told him to give him everything. The informant gave Newby money and a small piece of rock cocaine.
Police, who had been monitoring the conversation, arrived and yelled for Newby to stop, the informant testified. When Newby turned to look at the officers, he lowered the gun and it discharged, the informant testified.
The bullet struck the right side of the driver's seat cushion.
by CNB