A mistrial has been declared in the West Park Market robbery trial. The jury deliberated over 12 hours but were unable to reach an unanimous decision.
Wayne Clark, the man who prosecutors say robbed the West Park Market in Albemarle County at gunpoint four times over a 10-month period last year, will be retried on July 10. If convicted, he could face decades behind bars.
Clark is charged with grand larceny, four counts of robbery, four counts of displaying a firearm during those robberies and two counts of abduction when he allegedly locked two customers in the store and would not let him leave.
Clark's attorney says he's disappointed in Thursday's outcome.
Defense attorney Brian Chan said, "I spoke with Mr. Clark and his family and friends. We were all hoping for a resolution today. We wanted this to be over with, so we're disappointed on that front, but we're not ready to stop fighting."
In court Wednesday, prosecutors pointed to text messages Clark allegedly sent to an accomplice leading up to an October 7 robbery, along with the fact that he was unemployed at the time.
The defense argued that he was not anywhere near West Park Market during at least one of those four robberies. His attorney says that if Clark is convicted on all 11 charges, he could serve the equivalent of life behind bars.
Clark's new trial begins July 10 in Albemarle County Circuit Court.
