Jeanna Duerscherl | The Roanoke Times

Beverly Ricardo Mangum, 54, pleaded no contest to first-degree murder, robbery and attempted robbery Tuesday morning in Roanoke.

Photo courtesy of Kailas Brahmbhatt

Jayeshkumar Brahmbhatt, shown with wife Kailas, was shot to death Feb. 28.

Beverly Ricardo Mangum met Calvin Bond Watson in a Roanoke halfway house just before their sentences ended.

Not long after their release, the two men with histories of felony theft convictions crossed paths again. Watson came to Mangum needing cash quick -- and Mangum helped by picking convenience stores for Watson to rob and providing a gun and a getaway car.

But the last robbery they attempted ended with the convenience store manager shot dead, Roanoke prosecutors say.

Tuesday, Mangum pleaded no contest to first-degree murder and attempted robbery in the Feb. 28 death of Jayeshkumar Brahmbhatt. Prosecutors said in court that Watson, the triggerman, was prepared to testify against Mangum if the case went to trial.

Mangum, 54, also pleaded no contest to robbery in a holdup that happened two days before Brahmbhatt was killed. In exchange for his plea, he received a total punishment of 30 years in prison, suspended after serving 20.

Assistant Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Sheri Jones said that Mangum will become eligible for geriatric parole at age 65, regardless of whether he received a life sentence or a term of years.

In court, Jones presented an account of the acts Watson and Mangum were involved in based on police reports, video footage, Watson's confession to investigators and a letter Mangum wrote while in jail awaiting trial.

About 8 p.m. Feb. 26, a man walked into the Go Mart in the 3500 block of Williamson Road Northwest, bought a beer, then pulled a gun on the clerk. The man's face was captured on video, and police released the image to the media.

The man was later identified as Watson. Jones said that Watson had come to Mangum needing money. Mangum, who was more familiar with Roanoke, acquired a gun from a nephew, used his girlfriend's car to drive Watson to the stores he picked, then cased each target before sending Watson in to actually commit the robbery, Jones said.

Video camera footage showed Mangum walking through the Go Mart a few minutes before Watson came in, Jones said.

After the Go Mart robbery, Watson became panicked after seeing himself on the news. He came to Mangum again, wanting to get more cash and get out of town. Mangum chose the One Stop Market in the 1700 block of Williamson Road Northwest.

About 4:45 p.m. Feb. 28, Brahmbhatt, 52, was behind the counter when Watson and Mangum came into the store.

As Mangum watched, Watson and Brahmbhatt struggled by the register. Eventually, Brahmbhatt put both hands up in the air, but Watson shot him twice, Jones said.

Witnesses saw Mangum walk out of the store and to his car as Watson tried and failed to open the cash register. Watson then ran to Mangum's car, but Mangum refused to give him a ride, and the two fled in different directions.

Hours later, after a tip related to the robberies, a Roanoke police investigator happened to arrive at Westwood Boulevard Northwest just as Watson stepped off a bus there. Watson ran but was captured. Police also found the gun Mangum gave him.

Watson confessed to everything and explained Mangum's role, Jones said.

Mangum said he witnessed the shooting at One Stop Market but denied active involvement and claimed to know nothing about the other robberies.

But last week, he gave a fellow jail inmate a letter -- which the inmate turned over to authorities -- detailing his involvement in those incidents and a third robbery on Feb. 23. Mangum is not charged in that robbery, Jones said.

Ironically, last year Mangum testified as a jailhouse informant against another accused killer.

At a November 2007 hearing for Joshua Antonio Salters, who eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, Mangum cracked jokes about his own long criminal record. "I've been convicted of about nine, 10 felonies," he said.

Watson's trial on capital murder and other charges is scheduled to start Feb. 2. Prosecution and defense have not yet reached an agreement as to how his cooperation will affect his case.

Watson's attorney, David Damico, said he expects Watson, 52, would be found guilty, and that he'll have only two options, the death penalty or life without parole.

"We obviously are hoping that he will end up with the lesser sentence."