Commonwealth v. Albert Laval Watson; Multi-Time Convicted Burglar Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

Virginia Beach, Va. – Colin D. Stolle, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the city of Virginia Beach, announced that Albert Laval Watson, age 55, was sentenced today for charges of Statutory Burglary and Grand Larceny.  Watson was found guilty of these charges by Circuit Court Judge James C. Lewis after bench trial on June 24, 2024. Judge Lewis sentenced Watson to thirty (30) years in prison with twenty (20) years suspended, leaving ten (10) years to serve.  This sentence exceeded the high end of the Virginia State Sentencing Guidelines recommendation. When pronouncing his sentence, Judge Lewis remarked that Watson has been preying on members of the community since 1988.

The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on October 23, 2022, the victim returned to her residence after being out of town.  She discovered the door to her residence was open and the deadbolt was still extended.  Multiple items were missing from her home, to include two televisions.  Empty beer cans which did not belong to her were strewn around the residence.  Members of the Virginia Beach Police Department responded and began an investigation.  The Forensic Services Unit collected fingerprints which were analyzed and found to be a match to Albert Watson.  Watson was not known to the victim, and it appeared that he had gained entry to her home through a sliding glass door on the second-floor balcony. 

Watson has prior convictions for numerous property and larceny crimes dating back to 1988.  He was convicted of Robbery of a Residence with a Firearm and Burglary at Night in Chesapeake in 2005. He served fifteen (15) years in prison and was released in 2020, only two years before committing these crimes. After committing these offenses, Watson was also charged with multiple counts of Burglary in Hampton, Virginia.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Molly E. Bricker and former Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney John A. Fisher prosecuted this case. Please contact Macie Allen if additional information is desired.