Va. Beach man guilty on all counts in fatal 2008 robbery

VIRGINIA BEACH

A jury on Thursday convicted the third member of what prosecutors described as a robbery plot that ended in a fatal shooting.

Alvin Evans of Virginia Beach was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted robbery, conspiracy and firearms charges in the slaying of Sherrod Bailey on Feb. 7, 2008.

The jury recommended a 38-year sentence.

Prosecutor Ed Booth said Evans, 32, devised a plot with Beverlyn Johnson and Keone Baxter to rob Bailey. Booth said the trio looked for targets to rob at Luxury Brown Sports Bar.

The three of them worked in concert to lure Bailey, 26, out to The Mayfair Apartments, Booth said. Johnson was the bait, he said.

After Bailey arrived in the parking lot, Baxter and Evans approached his vehicle, Booth said.

A shot was fired into the driver's side, and police later found Bailey dead.

Prosecutors also pointed to Evans' fingerprint on a beer bottle near the crime scene, DNA evidence in Bailey's pants linked to Evans, and cell phone records from Evans' phone to Johnson's around the time of the slaying.

Defense attorney Richard H. Doummar questioned how many times Johnson had changed her story about the incident.

"She's getting something in return for testifying against my client," Doummar said.

Johnson has pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy. Her sentencing is scheduled for April 14.

Last year, a jury convicted Baxter of conspiracy and attempted robbery but acquitted him of murder and firearms charges.

He was ordered to serve 20 years and pay a $50,000 fine.