A Norfolk man who broke into a Bayview home and stole thousands in cash, jewelry, and a car while the homeowner was out of town has pleaded guilty—and is now facing several years in prison.
Timothy Alan Newell, 36, admitted in court on April 1 to burglary and grand larceny for the March 2024 break-in at a home in the 1800 block of East Bayview Boulevard. The homeowner was away for an extended period when a friend checking on the property noticed the back door open and signs of a break-in. During a video call walkthrough, the homeowner confirmed multiple items were missing: cash, jewelry, clothing—and a family member’s car that had been parked in the driveway.
Norfolk Police launched an investigation, but it was Chesapeake Police who spotted the stolen car the very next day. When they pulled Newell over, they found him wearing the homeowner’s shirt and jewelry. Inside his jacket were five envelopes containing roughly $6,000 in cash—each marked with the victim’s handwriting.
To top it off, when the homeowner returned, she found Newell’s wallet inside the house.
Newell pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and one count of grand larceny. In exchange, prosecutors dropped an additional charge related to the incident. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Newell could serve up to three years and eight months in prison—the midpoint of the state’s sentencing guidelines. Judge Robert B. Rigney accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for June 27.
“Someone who burgles another’s home is not just stealing property; they are stealing the sense of security that a person has in her home,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “We hope that the conviction and the upcoming sentencing will afford some closure to the victim.”