Man gets 15 years to serve in city robbery case

Date published: 7/23/2008

BY KEITH EPPS

A man was ordered yesterday to serve 15 years in prison for a home-invasion robbery last year in Fredericksburg.

Nicholas Jay Poindexter, 39, was convicted of two counts of robbery and two counts of abduction for his role in the Jan. 21, 2007, robbery at Wellington Lakes apartments.

Judge H. Harrison Braxton Jr. sentenced Poindexter to a total of 50 years in prison with all but 15 years suspended.

Charges against a second suspect, Ricardo Cesar Pinzon III, are still pending in Fredericksburg Circuit Court.

At a preliminary hearing, Pinzon testified that the two suspects purchased marijuana from a young man who lived in the apartment.

He said Poindexter wanted some more, so he accompanied him back to the apartment because he knew the people who lived there.

Pinzon claimed that after he knocked on the door, Poindexter put a gun in his back and forced him inside.

Prosecutor Andy Cornick said two residents--neither of them the alleged marijuana dealer--were in the apartment. They were forced to accompany the suspects through the house while the suspects searched for something to take.

Before leaving with some marijuana and money, the victims were bound with duct tape forced to lie down. They were told to count to 100, Cornick said.

At least one of the victims didn't get that far. He got outside in time to see the car the suspects had left in.

The victims knew Pinzon, but only by a nickname.

Later that same night, Stafford deputies stopped the vehicle with the suspects in it. They have been in custody ever since.

Regarding Pinzon's claim that he was an unwilling participant in the robbery, Cornick said the victims have supported much of his story.

Pinzon's case is expected to be resolved next week.

Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com

Read more stories about Fredericksburg
Date published: 7/23/2008