Dinwiddie man part of $112,000 Charles City robbery to serve 16 years in prison

A Dinwiddie man who took part in a $112,000 robbery in Charles City will spend the next 16 years in prison.

Jeremy Brandon Martin, 34, of the 8200 block of Vaughan Road, learned his fate during Friday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court.

On Oct. 11, 2019, Martin was part of a contested trial held alongside his brother, Stephen Hunter Martin. During that trial, evidence pointed to the fact that on Oct. 15, 2018, Jeremy was one of two men who went into the home of Don Bulger. There, he and Tyron Allen, the third defendant, held a group captive while they confiscated money from the safe before taking off with it.

During the sentencing phase, Bulger took the stand and spoke about how the experiences both that night and how the robbery has affected him and his family since then.

“When I saw the guy pointing a gun at me, I thought ‘Damn, this is going to sting,’” he said. “For the 8-10 months after that, we drive around all five acres of our property to check it.

“When we get home, I have to be the first one to go in,” Bulger continued, pointing to how his wife and sister-in-law are traumatized from the experience. “The incident has changed our lives forever and not in a good way.”

Martin received a 20-year sentence with 17 years suspended on the armed burglary charge. He received a mandatory sentence of three years on the first count of use of a firearm in a felony (first offense), and two mandatory sentences of five years each of use of a firearm in a felony (second offense). Twenty years on each of the two robbery charges and one charge of robbery with a gun charge were suspended. He must also pay restitution in the amount of $33,000.

In an unrelated matter, a Sandston woman will serve no active time on one charge of grand larceny

Tiffany Nicole Bowen, 34, received formal sentencing during her afternoon trial. On Jan. 26, 2019, Bowen accepted a plea agreement and admitted that she stole silver from her aunt’s house in late 2018. Some of the items were recovered from the crime and she was given the opportunity to have the charge reduced to a misdemeanor if she started paying on restitution. However, she failed to do so and was convicted on the felony.

Bowen received a five-year sentence with all time suspended. However, she must pay restitution in the amount of $13,603.04.