NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — 21-year-old Devin Watts Jr. was sentenced on Friday to serve 10 years in prison for armed robbery and gun charges after robbing the clerks of two stores in 2022.
Before 10 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2022, Watts entered the 7-Eleven at 3235 Chesapeake Blvd., pointed his gun at a clerk, and demanded money and vape products. He left the store after the clerk gave him about $65 from the register and $25 worth of vape products. Video surveillance footage from the store showed Watts committing the robbery while handling with his left hand a black and silver gun equipped with a flashlight.
The following day, Watts entered the 7-Eleven at 1618 Indian River Rd., pointed the same gun at the clerks and robbed them.
Watts left the store after being given $325 in cash and merchandise. A clerk followed Watts as he left, and responding Norfolk Police officers took him into custody after pursuing him on foot. The police’s investigation confirmed that Watts was in possession of the same gun in the surveillance footage from the first robbery, physically matched the suspect in the video and was left-handed. Watts has been convicted of four prior felonies and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
On May 8, Watts pleaded guilty to two counts each of armed robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm, his plea was accepted with no agreement to his sentence.
On Friday, Watts to serve 10 years in prison and suspended another 20 years on the condition that Watts complete three years of uniform good behavior following his release.
“Mr. Watts committed two dangerous, armed robberies in as many days, frightening and threatening store clerks who were just doing their jobs,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Mr. Watts’s double-digit prison sentence is necessary to account for his crimes and to keep the community safe from further harm. I hope that Mr. Watts uses his time in prison to learn the cognitive and work skills necessary not to commit such crimes again.”
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