Ernest Cornelison pleaded guilty today in York-Poquoson Circuit Court to robbing the Check Into Cash store on Merrimac Trail in August.
York-Poquoson Commonwealth’s Attorney Ben Hahn said deputies from the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Department responded to a reported armed robbery at the business on August 6. The robber was said to have been wearing a Spider-Man mask and to have carried a handgun during the robbery.
Hahn said Cornelison pointed the weapon at the teller, who called 911 less than a minute after Cornelison left the store on a bicycle. Deputies flooded the area and, after some investigation, learned that the suspect had worked at a nearby car wash. Another witness said they saw the suspect, identified as Cornelison, putting on gloves, which is consistent with the teller’s story.
Once investigators learned Cornelison’s name they found his girlfriend, whose birthday was the day after the robbery. She said Cornelison had given her a $270 ring that had been purchased at a nearby Wal-Mart.
Cornelison was arrested shortly after the conversation between police and his girlfriend. He said during an interview with police that he had been out of work for a while, Hahn said. Cornelison confessed to the robbery, and then said he’d also stolen the bicycle he used to get away. The Spider-Man mask belonged to his son, Cornelison told police, and the gun was an airsoft gun, whose original orange safety tip had been colored over with a black marker.
Hahn said Cornelison revealed during interrogation that he used the money to buy a hotel room with his girlfriend, the birthday gift ring and to go out to dinner. He also bought minutes for a cell phone and put money on food stamps. Cornelison said he committed the robbery because it was the fastest way to make money.
Cornelison will be sentenced July 9. He pleaded guilty to robbery, use of a firearm in a felony and wearing a mask in public.
