By Patrick Wilson
The Virginian-Pilot
norfolk
A Norfolk man was sentenced to spend 20 years in prison after being convicted of robbing and trying to kill another man in August 2009.
Circuit Judge Junius P. Fulton III on Friday imposed a sentence recommended by a jury in the case of Tarek Z. Cherry, 19, who was convicted in August of attempted murder, robbery and two felony weapons charges.
In an unrelated case, Cherry was a suspect in the homicide of Maury High School football player Charles Humphrey, 18. Humphrey was shot Jan. 4, 2009, in Park Place after he attended a party.
Cherry was charged with Humphreys murder but prosecutors withdrew the charges because of a lack of evidence.
Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Lyn Simmons said Friday that Humphreys death remains under investigation. Prosecutors have the right to bring the charges back if they choose to.
In the robbery case, Cherry and another man were accused of stealing a Madden football video game from Joseph Anifowose . Cherry held a .25-caliber handgun to Anifowoses head and pulled the trigger twice, but the weapon didnt fire.
The robbery happened in the 7500 block of Tidewater Drive about a month after the murder charge against Cherry was dropped.
After Fridays hearing, Anifowose, 22, said he felt relieved.
“I feel just safer, honestly, knowing that I never have to face him again,” he said.
A sailor aboard the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, he was robbed about a month after he returned home from a 13-month deployment.
When asked if he wanted to make a statement to the court before he was sentenced, Cherry – wearing dark green jail scrubs with his ankles shackled together – declined.
“I felt more disgusted that he didnt apologize to me,” Anifowose said. “I feel hes just real stubborn about the whole situation. Like he hasnt learned at all.”
Cherry was ordered to spend 12 years on probation after his release.
Patrick Wilson, (757) 222-3893, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com
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