Knight v. Commonwealth

Convicted in a bench trial, Jack Wayne Knight was sentenced to confinement in the penitentiary for 12 years with 10 suspended for statutory burglary, Code § 18.2-91, two years for grand larceny, § 18.2-95, and two years for arson, § 18.2-82. Defendant assigns error to the larceny and arson convictions.

The situs of the crimes was Showker’s Department Store. The store was located on the first floor of a building containing two apartments on the second floor. Blanche Showker, the owner, locked the store at 9:35 p.m. on March 13, 1981. At 10:25 p.m., she received a telephone call advising her…