Carlton Dunston
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – A man was sentenced Wednesday for robbing the same Virginia Beach Citgo in one week, the Commonwealth’s Attorney said.
54-year-old Carlton Isaac Dunston was sentenced for Malicious Wounding, Robbery, Attempted Robbery, and two counts of Wearing a Mask.
Dunston was sentenced to to 30 years in prison, with 16 years suspended, leaving 14 years to serve.
The sentence is over twice the high-end of the Virginia State Sentencing Guidelines, which recommended a sentence of no more than six years and three months in prison.
Dunston pleaded guilty on June 1 to robbing the Citgo gas station located at 1560 Diamond Springs Road in Virginia Beach on January 1 and again on January 7.
On January 1 Dunston walked in with a hoodie over his head and a cloth over his face. He approached the cashier, displayed a knife, and demanded money. He ran off with about $250.
A police K-9 officer tracked his path to the Driftwood Apartments before losing the scent. The robbery was captured on surveillance video.
On January 7 a different victim was working who was also a manager and had watched the surveillance video from the January 1 robbery.
At around 12:15 p.m., Dunston entered the store dressed similarly to the previous robbery. The clerk immediately recognized the clothing from the previous surveillance video.
He displayed a knife and again demanded money. The clerk would not give up money, so Dunston chased after her as she ran to the manager’s office at the back of the store.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney said the victim attempted to close the door, but Dunston was halfway in the door with the knife in his hand. He stabbed the victim multiple times in her arm, chest, and legs.
Dunston also pushed and slammed the door on the victim, causing her to sustain multiple torn ligaments in her knee.
This robbery was also captured on surveillance video. Dunston went to the register in an attempt to open it, but was unsuccessful so he fled the store.
Police responded and located Dunston hiding in a hallway of the Driftwood Apartments behind the Citgo. He had a knife, a black knit mask, and a cell phone. He confessed to his involvement in the crimes.
