Two men plead guilty in 2013 home invasion

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Two Wilmington men pled guilty in New Hanover County Superior Court last week for their roles in a 2013 home invasion.

Jay Jawan Cromartie (pictured upper right), 25, entered guilty pleas to robbery with a firearm, conspiracy to commit robbery with a firearm, and first-degree burglary. Michael Betrand (pictured bottom right), 22, pled guilty to robbery with a firearm, first-degree burglary, and second-degree kidnapping. Both men will serve active sentences of 89-131 months in prison. Jamaar Walker (pictured upper middle), 20, received the same amount of time when he was sentenced for his participation in the incident in September of 2014. A fourth defendant, Jamar Gordon (pictured bottom left), entered guilty pleas in December of 2013 and is currently awaiting sentencing.

On July 3, 2013, investigators said Walker, Betrand, and Gordon forced their way into a residence on Colwell Avenue looking for illegal drugs and money. The three men were armed with a shotgun and handguns.

While Walker and Betrand held two victims at gunpoint on the first floor, Gordon made his way up the staircase to the second floor. A victim who had been in a room upstairs heard the commotion and shot Gordon three times before he was able to reach the second floor, causing all three intruders to flee the house. Gordon was captured on surveillance video minutes later at New Hanover Regional Hospital, where he was dropped off at the emergency room entrance by Angel Myers (pictured upper left), 19, of Castle Hayne.

Wilmington Police officers stopped Myers’ vehicle in the hours that followed. Inside they found Myers, Cromartie, Betrand and Walker. Two handguns were located in the rear compartment of the vehicle, along with small amounts of marijuana in various areas of Myers’ car. The shotgun used by Gordon was located on the floor of the victims’ residence.

Prosecutors alleged that Cromartie knew the victims and devised the plot to rob them. During Myers’ trial last week, evidence showed that Myers drove the four men to an area near Colwell Avenue shortly after 1:00 a.m. on July 3, 2013. Myers and Cromartie remained in the vehicle, while the others forced their way into the victims’ residence. After suffering his gunshot wounds, Gordon returned to Myers’ vehicle, who then dropped him off at the hospital. Evidence showed that Myers then returned to another location to pick up Cromartie, Betrand, and Walker.

A jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on any of the offenses for which Myers was facing, resulting in a mistrial. Myers’ next trial date has not been determined.