
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, October 13, 1994                   TAG: 9410130064
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SARAH HUNTLEY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TEEN GETS 18-YEAR TERM FOR ROBBERY

James Cobb, one of two teens charged with robbing four youths outside Tanglewood Mall in May, was sentenced to 18 years in prison Wednesday.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Randy Leach said Cobb, 18, also faces five years of probation after pleading no contest to four counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, one count of the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and one count of brandishing a firearm.

The second suspect, 17-year-old Samuel Rushing, pleaded guilty to lesser charges - two counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery - and will be sentenced Dec. 14, Leach said.

The reduced charges were appropriate, Leach said, because Rushing's involvement in the crimes was limited.

Rushing "never handled the weapon. He basically took some money from one victim," Leach said. "In the second attempted robbery, he just stood there."

Each of the two counts of robbery carries a possible life sentence, and the attempted robbery charge could carry up to 10 years.

According to police, Cobb and Rushing approached four teens outside T.J. Maxx about 5 p.m. on May 7 and demanded money from them. The victims refused until Cobb showed them the gun in the waistband of his pants, police said.

Cobb and Rushing returned to the same location an hour later, looking to commit another robbery, police said, but the attempt was foiled when one of the victims said he also had a gun.

by CNB