Teen pleads guilty to attempted home invasion

One of a group of men who allegedly attempted a home invasion in January has pleaded guilty to his participation in the incident.

Augustus Xavier

    Augustus Xavier, 18, pleaded guilty last Tuesday in Bedford County Circuit Court to wearing a mask, two charges of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, attempted burglary, attempted robbery and malicious shooting into a dwelling.
    According to Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Krantz, Xavier was part of a group of five men from Roanoke who came to Bedford County to the home of a man who they believed had drugs and money in his house. Two of the men had guns, a .357 magnum revolver and a .38 special revolver.
    Krantz said it was a planned home invasion to steal drugs and money.
    According to Krantz, the men couldn’t gain entry to the house and were confronted by the homeowner. Two shots were fired at the house, one as they fled after being confronted. One bullet penetrated an outside and interior wall.
    Krantz said that a call came in to dispatch just before 2 a.m. on Jan. 17. A deputy, responding to the call saw the suspects’ car traveling the other way and turned around to begin pursuit. The suspects, in an effort to escape, tried to cut through a field. Unable to proceed, they abandoned the car and fled on foot.
    “The Sheriff’s Department did an excellent job of apprehending some of the suspects,” Krantz said.
    Xavier was one of the first, and the youngest, to be apprehended.
    One suspect, Nathan Nelms, remains at large.
    Krantz said that there were no drugs in the house.
    “Sometimes these people don’t hit the right house,” Krantz commented.
    There were, however, children in the house at the time.
    Xavier will be sentenced after a presentencing report is prepared. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 25 at 9 a.m. in Bedford County Circuit Court.