Bedford judge certifies charges in August home invasion

BEDFORD — Charges against four Lynchburg men accused in a drug-related August home invasion near Goode will be heard by a Bedford County grand jury next month.

Judge Edwin Burnette certified a variety of charges against the men during Monday’s preliminary hearing, finding the prosecutor had presented enough evidence to send the charges forward. The men face a range of charges from robbery to abduction. Two face charges of attempted murder.

Robert Krebs, 22, testified he heard glass break at about 3 a.m. on Aug. 13 at his home in the 6400 block of Bellevue Road.

“I woke up to guns in my face,” Krebs testified.

He said he saw three men in the house wearing masks and dark clothing. Krebs said he recognized Dewayne Irving when his mask fell off as he was being pistol-whipped. He said he couldn’t identify any of the other defendants.

Krebs said the men who broke in were all armed with pistols. Irving took $2,000 and a pound of marijuana at gunpoint, he testified. The men also shot and killed his dog, he said.

Krebs was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana after the incident. He was a reluctant witness Monday even after Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Mark Robinette told him his testimony as a victim could not be used in his prosecution here or for a charge he violated his probation in Amherst County, where he was convicted of cocaine possession last year.

Burnette jailed Krebs briefly after holding him in contempt for initially refusing to testify.

At some point during the robbery, Krebs testified, he ran out of the house and jumped the fence in his yard to try to get the robbers’ license plate number. As he got to the fence, he said, someone started shooting at him. One bullet struck the fence less than a foot away from him, he said.

Alison Wood, 22, testified she was living at the house with Krebs in August. Wood said she woke up to find two men in the bedroom with guns.

“They said if I said anything, they would blow my brains out,” she testified.

Wood said she saw Irving beating Krebs and identified Montez Rose as one of the people who held her at gunpoint after seeing him in court.

“When someone holds a gun to your head, you can remember what their eyes look like,” she said.

She was also charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Irving waived his preliminary hearing and testified against the others. He said he called Rose and the two other men telling them that they were going to rob Krebs. He said he drove codefendant Artis Appling Jr.’s car to and from the home.

He admitted he beat Krebs, but said he took only $1,000. He also testified he believed Rose was responsible for the shootings, but wasn’t sure.

Bedford County Sheriff’s Office Investigator J. Renalds testified Rose admitted he shot at Krebs three or four times as he fled. Renalds said Rose told him he shot the dog and that the group went to a motel on U.S. 460 east of Bedford after the robbery.

Renalds said Appling told him Irving had a problem with Krebs and told him they were going to rob him. He said the group divided the money at the motel, but Appling denied taking his share.

The Nov. 3 grand jury is set to consider the following charges:

- Irving, 21; attempted murder, burglary, attempted robbery, abduction, malicious wounding, use of a firearm in com-mission of a felony and animal cruelty.

- Rose, 18; attempted murder, breaking and entering, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, abduction and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. A misdemeanor charge of killing a companion animal was dismissed.

- Appling, 21; abduction, burglary, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

- Jarrett Bradley, 19; abduction, burglary, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. A charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm was dismissed.