A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to three years behind bars after breaking into two Chinese restaurants in Norfolk last year.
Brandon Lee Odoms pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and one count of possessing burglarious tools. On April 11, Norfolk Circuit Court Judge Jamilah D. LeCruise handed down the sentence, which includes three years of active time and an additional three years suspended. Odoms will also be on supervised probation and is required to stay away from the victims and pay restitution once he’s out.
The break-ins happened just days apart in spring 2024.
Late on March 29, Odoms smashed the front door of China Town on East Berkley Avenue with a hammer, then forced his way through a wooden barrier inside. He rummaged through the reception and kitchen areas, eventually escaping out the back. The entire thing was caught on surveillance video.
A few days later, sometime between the night of April 1 and early morning April 2, Odoms broke into Golden City on Monticello Avenue. Again, cameras inside the restaurant recorded the incident.
When police caught up with Odoms on April 9 in a neighboring city — in connection with yet another burglary — he was wearing the same clothes seen in the Norfolk surveillance footage. After being read his Miranda rights, Odoms admitted to both restaurant break-ins.
He reached a plea deal in September, agreeing to serve no more than the midpoint of his sentencing guidelines, which called for up to nearly four years. In exchange, prosecutors dropped other related charges.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi said the sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes, particularly given the impact on the victims.
“Mr. Odoms broke into two restaurants that provide affordable meals in underserved communities and are family-owned businesses that operate on narrow margins,” Fatehi said. “Mr. Odoms committed real crimes with real victims, and he will now serve a sentence consistent with his actions.”