NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — After offering a woman a ride and giving her money, a man asked her for sex and then beat her and stole her belongings when she refused.
58-year-old Marvin Jackson was convicted on Wednesday of robbery by force. On the evening of March 19, the victim was walking down North Military Highway when Jackson saw her and offered her a ride, believing her to be a prostitute, according to his testimony in court. After driving around and going into a lot off Cromwell Drive, Jackson offered the woman $40. Only after she accepted the cash, did he then proposition her for sex.
The woman stated she wasn’t a prostitute and got out of the truck. Jackson proceeded to follow her and demand the money back, but she refused. Jackson reportedly grabbed the victim’s bag, and punched her repeatedly after she tried to fight back.
He also forcibly took the cash in her pants pocket and fled.
The victim called Norfolk Police to report the robbery and was transported to a hospital for treatment of her head injuries, including two black eyes and a concussion.
At the hospital, she provided a physical description of Jackson and his truck, including a partial recollection of his license plate number. Detectives then submitted the vehicle information she provided to the Flock license plate recognition system. The Flock system alerted officers the following day and they were able to find and arrest Jackson at his home.
On Wednesday, Jackson pleaded not guilty to his charge of robbery by force and requested to be tried by a judge. During his trial, Jackson testified to believing the victim to be a prostitute, asking her for sex, physically fighting the victim, and forcibly taking her personal belongings and the cash he had offered her. Jackson was found guilty as charged and set his sentencing hearing on Oct. 11.
“Once again, judicious use of the Flock system has led to the identification, arrest, and conviction of an individual whose identity may never have otherwise come to light,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Regardless of what Mr. Jackson’s understanding was of his interaction with the victim, he had no right to assault her and take her personal belongings by force. That is robbery.”
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