NORFOLK, Va. — A 36-year-old man accused of robbing several Virginia ABC stores in 2022 was sentenced to more than four years in prison on Thursday, according to the Office of the Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney.
From Nov. 7 to Nov. 27, 2022, Donte Smith stole a number of liquor bottles and damaged merchandise when he broke into ABC stores on Tidewater Drive, Colley Avenue, Granby Street at Wards Corner, West Ocean View Avenue and International Boulevard, according to authorities.
Prosecutors allege Smith stole a Toyota Camry that was left running in the parking lot of a Dollar General on West Ocean View Avenue on Nov. 25, 2022.
Two days later, Norfolk police said Smith was seen driving the stolen car away from an ABC store that had just been robbed. A police chase ensued but was quickly thwarted when Smith crashed the car and was ultimately arrested. Officers said more than two dozen stolen liquor bottles were discovered in the trunk of the Camry.
Authorities said the 36-year-old admitted to the multiple burglaries spanning the month of November, including one that happened at an Exxon gas station located on East Princess Anne Road on Nov. 26, 2022.
In August 2023, Smith pleaded guilty to four counts of statutory burglary and three counts of grand larceny. In addition to his prison sentence, Smith is banned from entering any Virginia ABC store during his probation period.
“Mr. Smith damaged people’s property, disrupted their lives, and — when the police came to arrest him — endangered himself, the police, and others,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Mr. Smith will serve a sentence equal to his crimes, and I hope that he will take the time while in prison to address the problems that led him to this place.”
During the 2022 burglaries, Smith was on probation for burglary and larceny offenses stemming from 2014 and 2019.
