RUSTBURG — A man accused of acting as “muscle” in the slaying of a Lynch Station man was denied bond for a second time Thursday.
Alphonso Lamont Destin, 21, is charged with first-degree murder in the May 23 death of Wilbur Lee West.
Destin was earlier denied bond in Campbell County General District Court. Circuit Court Judge John Cook also refused to allow him to be released from jail.
Defense attorney Scott DeBruin argued that his client had no criminal history other than a few marijuana charges in Amherst County. Destin’s family, DeBruin said, was willing to put up everything to secure his release.
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul McAndrews told the court Destin went to West’s 281 Leewood Road home with the intent to rob him.
“He admitted he went there as muscle,” McAndrews said.
The prosecutor said Destin and codefendant Renauldo Oliver, 23, pushed West down before robbing and shooting him.
McAndrews said a medical examiner’s report showed West could have died from a head wound he suffered from being shoved to the ground.
A Campbell County Sheriff’s Office investigator said during Oliver’s bond hearing earlier this week that Oliver shot West in the head after the robbery so he couldn’t identify him.
Both men have confessed to their roles in the alleged robbery and slaying, according to prosecutors. Lab tests have matched the bullet used to shoot West with a gun recovered from Oliver.
Oliver’s bond was also denied this week. Both men are being held in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail.
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