Prosecutors have dropped grand larceny charges against a 23-year-old man accused of being part of a James City County shoplifting as they work to gather more evidence against him and the co-defendants.
Marquan Tavelle Hoskins, along with 26-year-old Kendrick Markiest Alexander, 25-year-old Damon Mario Woodson and 22-year-old Antonio Leon Kelly, are accused of stealing more than $5,000 in clothing from Polo Ralph Lauren and Belk in November and December 2013.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Gaten said Thursday he is working with a cooperative witness in the case to gather more evidence before directly indicting Hoskins and Kelly, who had charges against him dropped in August.
If prosecutors directly indict the two suspects, the cases go straight to Circuit Court to be tried.
Kelly, a Newport News man who was arrested in July, and Hoskins, a Hampton man who was arrested in October, each faced a felony count of grand larceny and a felony count of conspiracy to commit grand larceny.
Charges against Kelly were dropped in August. He was convicted in November of stealing more than $3,200 of clothing from Dicks Sporting Goods in York County.
Woodson, a third person alleged to have stolen clothing from the James City County stores, pleaded guilty in July to two felony grand larceny charges and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison and $5,465 of restitution.
Alexander, who also faces one count of felony grand larceny, is scheduled to appear for trial at 9 a.m. April 3 in Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court.
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