Local news- Press Release
Norfolk Virginia - Commonwealth v Jamir Wallace 29 December 2023 ( news )
Norfolk , state Virginia ( By Press Release office)
Dec 29,2023
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Man Convicted of Rape While Impersonating Police Officer Sentenced to 20 Years
NORFOLK , Va . – Jamir Hassan Wallace , 30 , was sentenced today in Norfolk Circuit Court to 20 years in prison for a February 2022 sexual assault in which Mr . Wallace abused his position as a security guard to force himself onto a woman who had requested his help .
Mr . Wallace was working for a third - party security guard service at a Norfolk grocery store . On Feb . 13 , 2022 , the victim allowed a friend who was staying with her to borrow her car for grocery shopping . While the friend was shopping inside of the store Mr . Wallace patrolled , the victim’s vehicle was stolen from the store parking lot . After learning about the theft from her friend , the victim arranged to be dropped off at the parking lot so she could gather information and file a police report .
The victim told Mr . Wallace about the theft , and he offered to help by calling Norfolk Police . However — while dressed in his dark - colored uniform complete with a vest , badge , utility belt , and walkie - talkie — Mr . Wallace made numerous false suggestions to the victim that he was in fact a Norfolk Police officer , including that the store utilized officers as security guards and that he had “coworkers” at the “station” who would assist with the victim’s stolen vehicle case .
After Mr . Wallace called Norfolk Police , and while the victim waited for responding officers , Mr . Wallace offered to use the victim’s phone to record the store security footage of her vehicle being stolen . Mr . Wallace then walked off with the victim’s phone . When he returned , the victim noticed that Mr . Wallace had texted himself from her phone — effectively giving himself her number without asking — and that he responded to this message to himself with the promised security footage . The victim eventually called dispatch again and arranged for officers to file a report with her at her home later that day .
After Mr . Wallace finished his shift , he contacted the victim claiming to have more information about her stolen car and that he needed to meet with her to further discuss the situation . Mr . Wallace arrived at the victim’s house while still in uniform and claimed to be there to arrest the victim’s friend for allegedly stealing inventory from inside the grocery store . The victim protested , Mr . Wallace in turn asked where the victim’s bedroom was , and he directed her upstairs to it . Once upstairs , Mr . Wallace locked himself and the victim inside the victim’s bedroom and proceeded to rape her .
Mr . Wallace left the victim’s home before actual Norfolk Police officers arrived to take her report about the stolen car . The victim , too shocked and afraid to tell the officers what just happened , reported the rape the following morning . Norfolk Police arrested Mr . Wallace three days later at the grocery store . Recovered from his vehicle was the security outfit he wore during the assault .
Following a bench trial on Aug . 15 , 2023 , Judge David W . Lannetti found Mr . Wallace guilty of rape , forcible sodomy , and impersonating a law enforcement officer .
On Friday , Judge Lannetti sentenced Mr . Wallace to 20 years in prison , with an additional 41 years suspended on the conditions that Mr . Wallace register as a sex offender , have no contact with the victim , be of uniform good behavior for 20 years , and serve an indeterminate period of supervised probation upon his release from prison .
“Mr . Wallace’s serious crime has earned him a serious sentence , ” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi . “When the victim asked for help , Mr . Wallace raped her in her own home . My thoughts continue to be with the victim , and I hope that this sentence offers her some closure . ”
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Madeline C . Woodruff prosecuted Mr . Wallace’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth , and Norfolk Police Detective Ryan B . Davis led the investigation .
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