Juvenile in McDonald’s armed robbery found competent to stand trial

A Henrico County juvenile has been found competent to stand trial in relation to an armed robbery at the Bottoms Bridge McDonald’s.

Robert James Priester, 16, of the 2200 block of Kingsbrook Drive, will have a bench trial (heard by the judge) on March 10. Priester is charged with three counts of armed robbery and one count of using a firearm to commit a robbery.

A mental evaluation prepared by Dr. Elizabeth Wheeler for Chesterfield Circuit Court indicated the defendant understood the proceedings of the trial and has the capability of testifying if necessary.

Defense attorney Michael Henkle asked for a delay in the trial date, citing his cooperation from Priester’s other attorneys in Petersburg, Chesterfield, and Henrico. Instead, Judge Thomas B. Hoover responded back, emphasizing that proceedings in those jurisdictions do not apply to New Kent court.

“I don’t understand why this court is waiting on Henrico and Chesterfield,” said Hoover.

When Henkle offered an explanation that his client would be testifying against his co-conspirators in federal court, Hoover applied logic from his years of experience on the stand to the defendant’s possible testimony.

“How credible will his testimony be to a federal judge if he’s testifying as a co-defendant and he’s taken a plea deal?” asked Hoover.

The judge proceeded to set the date for the trial; whether negotiations were complete or not.

“There will either be a trial or a plea on that date,” Hoover concluded.

Meanwhile, Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory said the three adults involved in the robbery now have a date in federal court.

Shatik U. Jackson, 19, of the 300 block of Shetland Court, Henrico; London Shi-Anne Cotman, 19, of the 300 block of North Airport Drive, Henrico; and Cornelius Clayton Jr., 19, of the 600 block of Fritz Street, Highland Springs, will have their trial heard jointly on April 23. All three have been in custody since Sept. 27 of last year.