By Janie Bryant
The Virginian-Pilot
NORFOLK
A city teenager was sentenced to serve 32 years and three months in prison Friday for the November 2007 murder of a 15-year-old who was trying to protect his mother.
The sentencing of Troy L. Wilkins, 16, concluded the cases against three teenagers convicted of murder and other charges in the slaying of Dominic Young.
Young had run into the Enlanka Restaurant on Church Street during a robbery attempt because he heard his mother cry out. He had been using a pay phone just outside.
"A lot of you today did not know Dominic, but he was special to me," Elsie Young said on the stand Friday.
She appeared weary of talking about what the day of the shooting had done to her.
Prosecutor Greg Underwood did not press her.
After the hearing, she said she spends her time now trying to talk to young people in the community about guns and the devastation they bring.
Wilkins, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, will be in his late 40s when he is free again.
He was already out of the restaurant by the time Young was shot that day, the victim's mother confirmed under questioning from Wilkins' lawyer, Joseph Lindsey.
Wilkins, who had no prior record, has always accepted responsibility for his part in the crime, Lindsey argued Friday.
The teenager testified against the other defendants and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, attempted robbery and weapons charges. He also pleaded guilty to a subsequent charge for an attempt to escape from juvenile detention.
Under a plea agreement, prosecutors had asked that he be sentenced to the mid-range of the sentencing guidelines, which is what the judge gave the teenager in active time.
Circuit Judge Norman A. Thomas gave Wilkins a total of 73 years on all the counts, including five for the escape, but suspended 40 years and nine months. Thomas also ordered that Wilkins serve 10 years of probation upon his release.
Dwayne Epps, 19, who fired the shot that killed Young, ended up with less time to serve - 30 years.
Circuit Judge John C. Morrison in October sentenced Epps to a total of 48 years on all the charges but suspended 18 years.
The youngest defendant, 13 at the time, was convicted and committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice as a serious offender, which means he can be held until his 21st birthday. He is not being named because of his age.
A fourth teen, Bandela Simmons, 15, was acquitted by a jury in February.
Janie Bryant, (757) 446-2453, janie.bryant@pilotonline.com
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Take away the judges opinions and plea bargins, then work
Two different judges with two different opinions on the teens. I just don't understand the suspending of years things both would be old me when they were to be release from prison as it should be. I guess they get releaase for good behavior, another thing I don't understand because good behavior wasn't what got you in prison. Our legal system is not the best but it can work when done right, but when the defense attorneys and the judge get together or the prosecuter's has holes in the case that means plea time. Next time Va Pilot does a story on why blacks receive more time in prison than whites, they need to research on why blacks commit more violent crimes than whites.
life without parole
He should have gotten life without parole
sad for all families
i have been following this story from the beginning.
its so very sad. I know this is devestating to ms Young. When I hear stories like this all i can do is think about my own son. he is only 10 but i just cant imagine what I would do if he was on either side. These boys are so young. These young boys are so young, and its so sad. As a community we have to step up and be more involved with our children.
Liberal Justice
Another heart wrenching story of a family preyed on by filthy criminals and gangs. God rest that brave young man's soul & help his mom find some comfort.
OK folks. While we all see the miscarriage - a mere handful of years for these animals - how many are willing to admit it is due to the liberals (mostly Democrats) in our legislature who are responsible for these "hand slaps"? (The judges must sentence within guidelines set forth by law.)
Please remember this next time you vote for who we're sending to the General Assembly. Actions do have consequences.
Justice
The young man who cooperated gets 32 years. No good deed goes unpunished. Who cares about this young black man who did not have a record but just got caught up in a wrong.
Judge should have shown leniency. But, no. Got to make an example. Typical justice.
This has me completely
This has me completely confused. This is partly why we cannot get witnesses to come foward with information and testify against the "trigger happy" assailants running the streets. This is partly why the streets commit itself to a "no snitching" code of silence. Here we have a 15 year old who admittedly took park in a robbery ... but who cooperately fully with the authorities ... who, according to testimony, was not inside the resturaunt when the 18 year old decided to pull the trigger ... but who gets more time than the shooter. Sounds almost like a chapter out of Earnest Gaine's novel "A Lesson Before Dying". This is a sad, sad story all the way around, no matter how you try to slice it.
Life
They should have given him life, afterall he took a precious life trying to save his mother.
ridiculous!!! ONLY 30 YEARS?????
a murder charge should be a minimum life sentence....its crazy that he could a young man who had at least 60 years ahead or him and only receive 30 years. he should at least receive that amount. D@mn liberals.....
The only adult, Epps, pulls the trigger and gets less time?!?!?!
Dwayne Epps was the only adult of the assailants and actually pulled the trigger but gets less time than Troy Wilkins who was 15 at the time and confirmed to be sitting outside the restaurant when Dominic Young was shot by Epps? Troy Wilkins even cooperates by testifying against the others and has fully acknowledged his role in the crime and gets over 30 more years than Epps? What is wrong with this picture? And I am supposed to lay down and relinquish my gun rights to liberals? This is the world we have become where a criminal's life is more sacred than the victims. Stories like this infuriate me to the core. DOMINIC YOUNG'S LIFE IS WORTH 30 YEARS IN PRISON AT MAX....AMAZING!!!!!
Dear, Dear Ms. Young!
I would like to say how very sorry I am for all of the heart ache you are going through and most likely will for a long time here out. The good sons are being taken from there mothers and for no good reason. It's so sad, it is hard to bring to words of what can and should be said.
Two lives wasted.
When will society get better. May he rest in peace.