Trials, arraignments scheduled for men accused in T-Mobile robbery

Published 7:58 pm Wednesday, September 14, 2022

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Two Norfolk men charged in connection to an armed robbery at the T-Mobile store in North Suffolk have trials scheduled, while two others, also from Norfolk, will face arraignments later this month.

Matthew J. Sparks, 24, waived a full arraignment last Friday in Suffolk Circuit Court and he has a jury trial scheduled for Feb. 1-3, 2023, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for Dec. 15.

Sparks pleaded not guilty to charges of robbery, abduction and kidnapping, use or display of a firearm in the commission of a felony and conspiracy to commit a felony during his arraignment hearing. All four Norfolk men face the same charges in connection to the incident.

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D’Angelo Kelly Jones, 22, also pleaded not guilty during his arraignment hearing last Friday and waived a formal reading of his indictment. He has a three-hour bench trial scheduled for Nov. 17.

Lorenzo Allen, 26, of Norfolk, faces the same charges and has an arraignment scheduled in circuit court for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 28.

The arraignment for Brandon R. Hargrow, 28, was continued until 9:30 a.m. Oct. 31 in circuit court.

Suffolk Police, in conjunction with Norfolk, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach police, along with the FBI, arrested the four men in connection to the Feb. 21 robbery of the T-Mobile store in the 7300 block of Harbour Towne Parkway.

Police said the robber went into the store with two other people, then interacted with the clerk, who showed two phones prior to purchase. The robber produced a firearm and took the phones from the clerk.

If found guilty of robbery, the men could each face up to 40 years in prison, while they could face up to 10 years for both the conspiracy to commit a felony and abduction and kidnapping charge, and either a three or five-year sentence for the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony depending on whether it’s a first or second offense.