Thursday, September 17, 2009
Final defendant pleads guilty in Christiansburg gun store robbery
A Christiansburg teen who was the final defendant in a gun store robbery case pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Roanoke.
Michael Blake Kaylor, 18, made his plea less than a month after his three fellow defendants admitted their guilt in the May 2 break-in at Danny’s Pawn Shop in Christiansburg.
After pleading guilty to four charges — conspiracy, stealing firearms, possessing stolen firearms and possessing a gun with an obliterated serial number — Kaylor could face decades in prison. Sentencing guidelines that will be presented at a hearing set for January will likely recommend something less, however.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Neese said authorities have recovered only five of the 11 guns taken in the break-in.
Summarizing the government’s case, Neese said that Kaylor; Brian Daniel Mann, 20; and Andrew Craft Robertson, 19, all of Christiansburg, decided to rob a gun store and settled on Danny’s as their target. With Robertson waiting in the car, Kaylor removed the hinges from the store’s back door and he and Mann took 11 guns.
They spent the night in Floyd, then returned to Christiansburg where Kaylor removed serial numbers from some of the weapons.
As part of their plan to sell most of the guns, they contacted Brandon Wayne Bishop, 19, who also lived in Christiansburg. Bishop, who was a convicted felon, bought a 9mm pistol.
Police quickly heard that Bishop had a gun and tracked the sale back to the others, Neese said after the hearing.
Mann and Robertson pleaded guilty to stealing firearms. Bishop pleaded guilty to possessing a gun after being convicted of a felony. They have not been sentenced.
Michael Blake Kaylor, 18, made his plea less than a month after his three fellow defendants admitted their guilt in the May 2 break-in at Danny’s Pawn Shop in Christiansburg.
After pleading guilty to four charges — conspiracy, stealing firearms, possessing stolen firearms and possessing a gun with an obliterated serial number — Kaylor could face decades in prison. Sentencing guidelines that will be presented at a hearing set for January will likely recommend something less, however.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Neese said authorities have recovered only five of the 11 guns taken in the break-in.
Summarizing the government’s case, Neese said that Kaylor; Brian Daniel Mann, 20; and Andrew Craft Robertson, 19, all of Christiansburg, decided to rob a gun store and settled on Danny’s as their target. With Robertson waiting in the car, Kaylor removed the hinges from the store’s back door and he and Mann took 11 guns.
They spent the night in Floyd, then returned to Christiansburg where Kaylor removed serial numbers from some of the weapons.
As part of their plan to sell most of the guns, they contacted Brandon Wayne Bishop, 19, who also lived in Christiansburg. Bishop, who was a convicted felon, bought a 9mm pistol.
Police quickly heard that Bishop had a gun and tracked the sale back to the others, Neese said after the hearing.
Mann and Robertson pleaded guilty to stealing firearms. Bishop pleaded guilty to possessing a gun after being convicted of a felony. They have not been sentenced.
