Townes v. Commonwealth

Indicted for robbery, capital murder in the commission of robbery, and use of a firearm while committing robbery, Richard Townes, Jr., elected to act as his own counsel. In the guilt phase of a bifurcated proceeding conducted pursuant to Code § 19.2-264.3, a jury convicted Townes of all three offenses and fixed his punishment at twenty years’ imprisonment on the robbery charge and two years’ imprisonment on the weapons charge.

In the sentencing phase, the jury found there was a probability Townes would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute a continuing threat to society and…