Police initially believed an Atlanta man kidnapped a woman during an armed robbery in Norcross.
Investigators later determined that she was was in on the robbery and faked the kidnapping, but the incident led to her conviction in October and his last week, according to court records.
Timothy Bernard Wingfield, 32, was found guilty of armed robbery and a theft by taking charge in the 2018 incident, but he was acquitted on counts of aggravated assault and a firearm possession charge, Gwinnett County records show. Prosecutors also dropped a second firearm charge during his Feb. 28 disposition.
He was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years on probation, but his legal team has filed an appeal for a new trial, records show.
The Jan. 31, 2018, incident began when Wingfield robbed Christina Nicole Day and her friend at gunpoint at the Crossland Economy Studios motel, AJC.com previously reported. Wingfield stole a car from Day's friend, both of their belongings and also forced Day into the car, Gwinnett police said.
However, investigators later determined that Day texted Wingfield before the incident and made plans to steal her friend’s car so they could sell it, police said.
RELATED: Police said she was kidnapped; now she's wanted in an armed robbery
Credit: Gwinnett County Police Department / Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Gwinnett County Police Department / Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office
Day, 22, was arrested the following month and Wingfield was arrested in September 2018, Gwinnett jail records show.
Last October, Day accepted a deal and pleaded guilty to robbery and theft by taking, while an aggravated assault charge was dropped, court records show. She was sentenced to 10 years on probation and credited for time served in jail awaiting her trial.
Wingfield remains in jail awaiting his transfer to prison.
However, this won't be his first trip to a state prison — it'll be his third.
Credit: Georgia Department of Corrections
Credit: Georgia Department of Corrections
Since 2008, he's spent about two-and-a-half years behind bars for convictions in DeKalb County, according to Georgia Department of Corrections records. He was previously convicted of burglary, theft by taking, credit card fraud and obstruction among other charges.
In other news:
About the Author
