Man gets 20 years for fatal beating and robbery in Norfolk

NORFOLK

After the punching, kicking and stomping, the robber rode over Eazy Baker’s body with the bike he stole.

Baker spent five months in the hospital after the beating, prosecutor Janet Westbrook said Friday, never waking from the injuries inflicted by Marcus Johnson in the 1500 block of Vernon Ave.

Baker died in August. He was 26.

Johnson, 19, pleaded guilty to robbery and second-degree murder in April. Westbrook argued that the man who would do something so callous deserved to spend a long time in prison, and urged Judge John C. Morrison to impose a sentence of more than 20 years.

“Eazy never struck back,” Westbrook said.

Johnson’s lawyer, Michael Gray, said the beating and robbery was out of character for his client. The incident happened because Johnson had made Baker a loan, Gray said. On the day of the beating, Johnson had asked Baker to return the money.

Morrison sentenced Johnson to 20 years in prison, with an additional 15 years suspended.

Johnson apologized for the crime, saying, “I wish I could take it back, but I can’t.”