Man Sentenced to More Than 2 Years for Grand Theft Auto, Crashing Into Other Vehicles While Eluding Norfolk Police

NORFOLK, Va. — A judge sentenced Brian Cyncere Snowden, 20, on Friday to two years and seven months in prison for stealing a woman’s SUV and leading police on a dangerous pursuit last year.

Around 11 a.m. on Sept. 26, a Virginia Beach woman reported that her 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee had been stolen from in front of her home on Tuition Drive. Later that afternoon, a Norfolk Police officer noticed the stolen Grand Cherokee being driven by Mr. Snowden in the 2400 block of East Princess Anne Road. Mr. Snowden ignored the officer’s lights and sirens, refused to pull over, and took off at a high rate of speed toward downtown. As he eluded, Mr. Snowden sped up to 40 mph over the posted limit, ran through red lights, and crashed into two other vehicles, causing minor injuries to the other drivers. The 10-minute vehicle pursuit ended after Mr. Snowden crashed into the second vehicle in the 1200 block of Brambleton Avenue, crossed over the median, and crashed into a cement column supporting the train underpass. Mr. Snowden attempted to flee the scene on foot, but he was detained shortly thereafter. Mr. Snowden confessed to have been in possession of the vehicle since 7 a.m. that morning, before the owner discovered it missing.

Mr. Snowden pleaded guilty with no plea agreement on Jan. 4 to grand larceny of an automobile, felony eluding, and two counts of misdemeanor hit and run, and Judge Joseph C. Lindsey accepted his plea.

On Friday, Judge Lindsey sentenced Mr. Snowden to two years and seven months in prison, with an additional seven years and nine months suspended on the conditions that Mr. Snowden complete three years of uniform good behavior and supervised probation following his release.

“Thank you to the police officer in this incident, whose diligent work led to the quick arrest of a wrongdoer,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “And, as we have seen too often, Mr. Snowden endangered himself and others and lengthened his prison sentence by running rather than stopping. If the police turn on their lights, stop, or things will always get worse.”

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Caswell W. Richardson prosecuted Mr. Snowden’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detective Kevin Rose led the investigation.

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