Jules Emerson Coy, the 21-year old Bristow resident arrested for robbing the Braemar Village Plaza Bank of America branch Mar. 7, 2013, was sentenced to four years in state prison Thursday afternoon after an emotional sentencing hearing at the Prince William County District Court in Manassas.
Jan. 27, Coy had entered a guilty plea to the crime of robbery, wearing a mask in public and use/or display of a firearm in committing a robbery.
Judge Caroll A. Weimer Jr. ruled that Coy receive one year more than the state-required minimum sentence of three years for his crimes, despite the defense’s claim that Coy was a model inmate who mentored others.
While the defense described Jules Coy as a model young person, the prosecution depicted him as a young man who was given everything, and committed a crime that defied all “rhyme or reason."
Coy's Defense
Pastor David Beird, of Life Church in Manassas, testified on behalf of Coy.
Beird said Coy had successfully completed his MIND (Men in New Directions) Christian-centric rehabilitation program while at the Adult Detention Center, and that everyone in that program has been impressed by his “growth and his attitude over the past few months.”
According to Beird, the Coy family was very involved members of Life Church in Manassas. Beird said he found the young man had made real positive changes during his time at the detention center.
Judge Weimer allowed the defense to read a letter written by Chaplain Ray Perez who ministers at the detention center. Perez praised Coy, and asked that “the court would grant him leniency.” Perez said that Coy’s rehabilitation would best be served within the county facility where he could be of service to the men to whom he has been a positive influence upon.
Coy successfully completed his own program within a few months. He was then appointed to a leadership position to mentor to other men. After eight months, he was moved to a larger unit to mentor a greater number of inmates, Perez's letter stated. During that time, Coy often mentored men older than himself, and Perez described him as “mature.”
Perez stated that Coy had been a “positive influence” on others and had “modeled Godly principles.” Morever, Perez said that Coy had found peace with himself and with those people he interacted with in and outside of the detention center.
Beird said “ would seldom write a letter like this,” on behalf of an inmate awaiting sentencing.
Coy’s attorneys John Zwerling and William Martin “concurred” with the prosecution that Coy’s actions were “inexplicable.’ However, Zwerling explained that Coy is also a young man who has demonstrated discipline and a strong work ethic. During his time in high school, he woke up at 3 a.m. to attend swim practice five days a week, and worked a part-time job.
“I don’t want to diminish the offense,” Zwerling said, but he requested Coy be granted the minimum sentence. He said that it is more than sufficient to send a message to others.
“He’s never been in trouble, never been to jail,” Zwerling added. “I doubt that there are many individuals who could produce the type of reputation that Coy has been able to earn I can’t give a guarantee [that he won’t have another offense] but there is every indication that he won’t recidive in the future.”
The defense also requested that Coy stay at the Prince William Adult Detention Center “where he can be an asset in the community and benefit himself as well as other people.”
The defense also asked the judge to note a correction in the court records that Coy’s firearm was a BB gun, not a semi-automatic weapon.
The Prosecution
Despite the defense's portrayal of Coy, the prosecution explained that “ was a man who had been given every opportunity growing up.”
“This was a kid who had everything and he robbed a bank. It defies common sense that this would happen,” said Prosecuting Attorney for the Commonwealth of Virginia Rebecca Thatcher.
Thatcher explained that Coy said he robbed the bank because he owed his drug supplier money and was afraid if he did not pay up his family would be harmed. Later, he retracted that statement, admitting he lied.
“The truth is, he just wanted money,” Thatcher said.
She explained that Coy confessed that he really wanted the money to start a recording studio.
“He wanted it for nothing,” she said, explaining to the judge that to get the $13,000, he put on a mask and held a weapon in a teller’s face.
Thatcher said Coy wanted for nothing, because his parents allowed him to live in their home, they paid for his college and even paid for his car. She agreed with the defense that his parents may be “pillars of the community” but she said that is not a “mitigating factor."
Coy’s Statement
Coy apologized for “being a menace to society and disrupting the peace.” Additionally, he apologized “to my mother and father for shaming our name.”
He said over the past few months, not a day went by that he did not regret what he had done. But Coy also spoke about the good he feels he has done while in jail, and how he turned his life around and helped others.
“The change in me is real. The change that I see in them is so real to me. Everything I did in the street was wrong because I didn’t have the right foundation,” Coy said.
Coy said that he did not want to leave the detention center to go to prison, because he felt he was making a positive impact there.
“I see the change that is happening in men and it is real. It is tangible,” he told the judge. “I want to help change society, because I know we are heading in the wrong direction.”
The Sentencing
For the first charge of robbery, Judge Weimer gave Coy 20 years with a 19-year suspended sentence. For use of a firearm in a robbery, he received three years, totaling four years in prison.
“That’s one more year than the three your lawyer is requesting. It’s less than the Commonwealth is requesting,” Judge Weimer said.
Coy also received 10 years of probation, during which time he cannot use illegal drugs nor be around others using illegal drugs. He will be subject to substance abuse evaluations and mental health evaluations.
Weimer said he would make a recommendation to have Coy stay at the county detention center, 'because I think it is futile. I would, [if I could] but I don’t have the authority to order it."
Judge Weimer said the purpose of the sentence was two-fold: to punish Coy for his action and send a message to anyone else who would consider committing such a crime.
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