Men get pre-sentence talking-to about gangs in Suffolk

SUFFOLK

A Circuit Court judge on Thursday delivered an anti-gang lecture to two young defendants - and then sent them to prison.

"The world today and society will not tolerate gang participation," Judge Westbrook Parker told 18-year-old Darrien Robinson.

"This court is not going to tolerate gang activities," Parker told David Lee Rudolph, 20. "It's not accepted in Suffolk. Gangs aren't in charge. The good people of this world are in charge."

Rudolph was charged with two counts of gang participation, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and two counts of destroying property. As part of a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty earlier this year to gang participation and one count each of the two misdemeanors.

Rudolph was charged with painting graffiti on two downtown buildings. Two younger boys helped him with the graffiti painting, prosecutor Jim Wiser said.

Rudolph's lawyer, Trevor Robinson, pleaded for a lenient sentence. He said that Rudolph had attended a year of college and played basketball for the school before becoming involved in a street gang.

"He has no prior criminal history," Robinson said. "He has distanced himself from any and all ties to gangs."

Parker sentenced Rudolph to five years, with four years, nine months suspended, for the felony and 12 months, with nine months suspended, for each misdemeanor, for a total of nine months in jail. He's to report to Western Tidewater Regional Jail on Nov. 7.

Rudolph will be on five years of supervised probation after he leaves prison.

Darrien Robinson was charged with gang participation, assault and battery and brandishing a firearm. He pleaded guilty in a plea agreement to gang participation. As part of the agreement, the other two charges will not be prosecuted.

Parker sentenced Robinson to five years in prison and suspended three years. He'll be on probation for five years after he serves his sentence.

Linda McNatt, (757) 222-5561, linda.mcnatt@pilotonline.com