Modified: June 27, 2014 3:08pm
Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announces that 49 year-old Lavina Walker of 1427 E. Delevan in the City of Buffalo pleaded guilty as charged to two counts of Grand Larceny 4th Degree and one count of Petit Larceny before State Supreme Court Judge Christopher J. Burns. These are the highest charges Walker could have been convicted of had she gone to trial. In other words, Walker was prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Walker’s guilty plea encompasses three separate incidents.
On July 6, 2013, at Wegmans on Alberta Drive in Amherst, Walker surreptitiously followed a 91 year old female shopper through the store. When the victim was distracted, Walker stole the victim’s wallet from her purse and fled from the store.
On September 17, 2013, again at Wegmans on Alberta Drive in Amherst, Walker similarly shadowed an 86 year-old female shopper through the store. When the victim left her cart momentarily, Walker stole the victim’s wallet from inside her purse. Walker then fled from the store.
On October 18, 2013, once again at Wegmans on Alberta Drive in Amherst, Walker was observed by store security personnel following multiple customers throughout the store. Walker eventually selected her target and stole change out of an 86 year-old female victim’s purse. This time, Walker was apprehended by Amherst police officers as she attempted to flee the store.
To say Walker is familiar with the criminal justice system would be an understatement. One can only hope that her twenty-seven (27) prior misdemeanor convictions and eight (8) prior felony convictions might convince the court that Walker is a habitual career criminal. Additionally, her three (3) latest convictions all involved crimes victimizing senior citizens.
If found to be a Persistent Felony Offender by the court, Walker faces a maximum of life imprisonment when sentenced by Justice Burns on August 6, 2014.
The case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brian Langenfeld, who is assigned to DA Sedita’s Felony Trials Bureau. DA Sedita also recognized the diligence and successful investigation of Amherst Police Department Detective Det. Rob Cunningham.