An Ashburn man was sentenced to more than six years in prison Tuesday, Nov. 13, for what was described in Loudoun Circuit Court as a "one man crime spree."
George H. Byars, 21, was charged Nov. 20, 2006, in connection with two robberies at convenience stores in the Ashburn area. In the robberies, the suspect entered the 7-Eleven convenience store on Ashburn Road and the Sunoco in the Ashburn Village Shopping Center. In both cases, the suspect was wearing all black clothing and a ski mask. In the 7-Eleven he brandished a knife. The suspect removed a small amount of cash from the registers and also took several cartons of cigarettes.
Approximately 15 minutes after the robbery of the 7-Eleven Loudoun Sheriff’s deputies observed a suspicious vehicle drive near their location in the area of Glen Hazel Drive and Grottoes Drive. A deputy attempted to verbally stop the vehicle but the vehicle fled the area. The vehicle went through a stop sign at Gloucester Parkway and later turned off its lights and turned down Downington Court. Byars was taken into custody.
Byars was found guilty of driving under the influence, abduction and two counts of robbery. Loudoun Circuit Court Judge Burke F. McCahill sentenced Byars to 12 months on the DUI charge with all but 30 days suspended. On the abduction charge, Byars was sentenced to two years to run concurrent with the robbery. He received 10 years on each of the robbery charges, with all but three years and two months suspended on each of those charges.
Byars now faces six years and five months in a state prison.