Norfolk Man Sentenced to 20 Years for 2020 Armed Home Invasion
NORFOLK, Va. – On Friday, 65-year-old Anthony Charles Hunter was sentenced in Norfolk Circuit Court to 20 active years in prison for an armed home invasion Mr. Hunter committed against his former employer in 2020.
Just after 5 a.m. on Sept. 17, 2020, the victim was in his bedroom at his Vincent Avenue residence when Mr. Hunter pushed in a box fan that was sitting in the victim’s window, entered the room wearing a mask, and robbed the victim at gunpoint. Mr. Hunter demanded money, the victim handed Mr. Hunter cash from the pocket of nearby clothes, and Mr. Hunter continued to demand more. The victim recognized Mr. Hunter’s voice, body movements and stature because Mr. Hunter had recently worked for the victim. When the victim addressed Mr. Hunter by name and asked why he was committing this robbery, Mr. Hunter stopped speaking and fled the residence.
The victim reported Mr. Hunter to Norfolk Police and provided investigators with home surveillance footage documenting the break-in and the vehicle Mr. Hunter drove. Cell phone records also placed Mr. Hunter near the residence at the time of the burglary.
Mr. Hunter was convicted following a June 1, 2023, bench trial by Judge Everett A. Martin Jr. of armed statutory burglary, residential robbery, the use of a firearm in the commission of those two felonies and wearing a mask while committing those felonies.
On Friday, Judge Martin sentenced Mr. Hunter to an active 20 years in prison, with another 16 years suspended on the conditions that Mr. Hunter be of uniform good behavior and comply with an indeterminate period of supervised probation upon his release from prison.
“The twenty-year sentence Mr. Hunter received reflects how serious and dangerous a crime he committed against this victim,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “People deserve to be safe in their homes, and we will work to hold accountable the people who violate that security.”
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Melinda F. Seemar prosecuted Mr. Hunter’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Officer Chrisopher Allen served as the lead investigator.
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