Colonial Heights, VA—A man who grabbed a
young girl's arm and tried to abduct her last year was convicted Tuesday.
On
March 28, 2012, Earl Manning, Jr. was riding his bicycle near a residence in Colonial Heights. He
approached two children who were playing at the home, and told one of them, a
7-year-old girl, "come ride with me, we aren't coming back." He then grabbed
the girl's arm, causing redness and a mark, and pulled her towards his bicycle.
Along
with the girl pulling away from Manning, her aunt and mother also assisted in
freeing her from his grip. The child's aunt and mother then physically removed
Manning from the property, and called police. Manning was subsequently
arrested.
Colonial
Heights Commonwealth's
Attorney, William Bray, stated, "I'm happy the child was not hurt and a
child predator is off the streets".
Manning was convicted January
15 in Colonial Heights Circuit Court for convicted of one count of
Abduction with Intent to Defile; he was also convicted of Felony Assault and Battery
of a Law Enforcement Officer and sentenced to six months of mandatory jail
time.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Elizabeth
Fields, who prosecuted the case stated, "Justice was done in this
case. Anyone in Colonial Heights who puts their hands on a
child with the intent to harm them will be held responsible".
Copyright 2013 by
Young Broadcasting of Richmond
