FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 11, 2012
Contact: Heather F. Williamson
Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office
20 East Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20176-2809
(703) 777-0242
LEESBURG CAR THEIVES SENTENCED
LENGTHY PERIODS OF INCARCERATION HANDED DOWN BY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES
LEESBURG, Virginia – Two Prince William County men sentenced to serve a combined active sentence of 14 years in the Virginia Department of Corrections.
Justin Allen Easom, 25, and Brian Romberger, 29, were charged with numerous felonies after being identified by law enforcement, and later admitting to Leesburg Police Detectives, to be the individuals responsible for more than 20 thefts from unlocked vehicles and a residential garage in early 2012.
Romberger was found guilty of Breaking and Entering, Grand Larceny, and Credit Card Theft (x3). On October 22, 2012, the Hon. J. Howe Brown sentenced Romberger to serve an active sentence of 6 years in prison, and placed Romberger on supervised probation for 3 years upon his release. Brown also imposed an additional 7 years of suspended time.
Easom was also found guilty of 5 felony charges: Breaking and Entering, Grand Larceny, and Credit Card Theft (x3). On November 20, 2012, the Hon. Burke F. McCahill sentenced Easom to 8 years of active incarceration, with 9 additional years suspended conditioned upon his good behavior and successful completion of 5 years supervised probation upon his release from prison.
Both defendants have extensive adult criminal records which were taken into consideration during their sentencing hearings. Additionally, both had repeated criminal contact with the juvenile court system.
The Court further ordered both defendants to jointly make restitution in excess of $3,000 to 18 victims who were affected by Romberger and Easom’s car hopping crime spree.
“While these two individuals were accustomed to committing crime, the easiest deterrent to this type of crime continues to be basic preventive action,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Plowman. “Simply locking your car, removing visible valuables and closing your garage door can, at times, deter a criminal of opportunity.”
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