Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 13, 1994 TAG: 9404130132
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Robert Diaz, who has similar charges pending in Roanoke County and Salem, faces multiple life sentences and the possibility of no parole after his convictions in Roanoke Circuit Court.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Teaster said all the robberies fit a pattern.
Most occurred during the day, most involved female clerks, and in most cases the robber told his victims to count to 30 before calling police.
In the Roanoke cases, Diaz admitted robbing four stores - one of them twice - between Sept. 20 and Oct. 23. His targets included video rental stores, a convenience store and a pizza delivery business.
In each case, he fled with cash ranging from $200 to $2,000.
Diaz, 29, was arrested in November and confessed to police. "He said he was high on crack, or he would not have committed the offenses," Teaster said.
During one of the robberies, Diaz led a clerk to a back room, where he told her to disrobe. When the woman began to cry as Diaz fondled her, he told her, "You're not worth it," and left the store, Teaster said.
Diaz is accused of raping another woman during a robbery in Salem. Although Diaz is charged in three jurisdictions with a total of nine robberies, defense attorney John Gregory said he likely will be sentenced by one Roanoke County judge for all of the offenses.
He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on each of the robbery charges and the rape, plus 10 years for attempted rape.
by CNB