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Press Release

Virginia Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Assault on a Federal Officer

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia

NORFOLK, Va. – Marcus D. Wilkins, 27, of Virginia Beach, pleaded guilty today to assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, on May 1, Wilkins removed a shopping cart full of unpaid merchandise from the Navy Exchange at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach.  A loss prevention officer saw him remove the merchandise and ordered him to stop.  Instead, Wilkins walked away from the shopping cart and toward his car.  An officer with the Naval Air Station Oceana base police observed Wilkins walking toward his vehicle and approached the vehicle, identified himself as base police and positioned himself in front of the vehicle and twice ordered Wilkins to stop.  Wilkins started his car and accelerated into the police officer, lifting him off the ground with the hood of the car and pushing him backward in the air and to the ground. Wilkins then fled the Navy Exchange parking lot and was apprehended by members of the Virginia Beach Police Department shortly thereafter.

Wilkins was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 8, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on December 14. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Tim Quick, Special Agent in Charge, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Norfolk Field Office; and James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa K. Nichol is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:16-cr-84.

Updated September 7, 2016