State v. Blake-Joshua Isaiah McKinney, C-08-CR-19-001090
LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, October 15, 2020, Blake-Joshua Isaiah McKinney, 18, entered a guilty plea in Charles County Circuit Court to Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. Following the plea, McKinney was sentenced by the Honorable Judge William R. Greer, Jr. to 20 years with all but 5 years suspended in prison. Upon release, McKinney will be on probation for a period of five years.
On December 6, 2019, officers responded to the CVS Pharmacy located in the 7000 block of Indian Head Highway in Bryans Road for the report of an armed robbery in progress. Upon arrival, officers discovered McKinney attempting to leave the store and blend in with other customers. McKinney and a juvenile co-defendant were apprehended at the scene.
An investigation revealed that prior to the robbery, McKinney and his juvenile co-defendant exited a black Nissan Maxima and entered the CVS with ski masks covering their faces. They proceeded to jump over the pharmacy counter and demand narcotics; however, the pharmacist was unable to open the safe. The suspects then started taking money from the cash registers. Throughout the robbery, McKinney was armed with a handgun.
An off-duty police officer was present in the store and became aware of the robbery. As the suspects were leaving, the officer identified himself as a police officer, drew his agency-issued firearm, and ordered them to stop. In response, both suspects fled to the rear of the pharmacy. The officer gave chase to the juvenile, who attempted to flee in the Nissan Maxima driven by co-defendant Alonzo Lamont Gholston. Gholston reached to pick up a handgun, prompting the officer to fire his weapon. However, no one was injured.
The juvenile was unsuccessful in his attempt to escape and was apprehended. During this time, McKinney shed his clothing in the store, hid the gun, and attempted to blend with other customers; however, he was also unsuccessful.
The Nissan Maxima was later identified and the driver, Gholston, was apprehended after a vehicle pursuit by an officer. It was discovered that the vehicle was reported stolen earlier in the day.
On September 18, 2020, Gholston entered a guilty plea in Charles County Circuit Court in front of the Honorable Judge H. James West to Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery. He was then sentenced to 10 years with all but 3 years suspended in prison. Upon release, he will be on supervised probation for a period of five years.
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