WAYNESBORO — The gunman in a January robbery of a Waynesboro business pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of armed robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

John D. Finch, 24, of Waynesboro, was sentenced to three years in prison in a plea agreement with the Waynesboro Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.

His alleged accomplice, 30-year-old Michael R. Womble, the suspected getaway driver, opted earlier in the day to take his case to trial on Dec. 18.

According to Waynesboro Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Eduardo E. Garza, on the night of Jan. 15, Finch, armed with a handgun, entered the Tobacco and Vape Shop in the 400 block of Tiffany Drive.

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Garza said Finch, who was wearing black clothing and a black face mask, was allegedly talking on a cell phone with Womble during the robbery, whose instructions on what to steal were picked up by the store's surveillance system.

Pointing a gun at the employee, Finch had him empty the cash register while threatening to shoot him, Garza said. A voice coming from the phone, purported to be Womble's, even told him what brand of cigarettes to take, the prosecutor said.

In all, about $1,700 in cash and another $600 in merchandise was stolen.

Surveillance footage from a nearby store showed Finch getting into a dark-colored minivan as he fled the scene, according to Garza. The employee also recognized Finch's voice from an earlier transaction that same day.

Call records showed that Womble's cell phone was within 100 meters of the store on the night in question, according to evidence.

Authorities also found a Facebook photo showing Finch wearing the same clothing he wore during the robbery and a picture of the gun that was used, Garza said. The gun was eventually seized.

Garza said the victim left the country and went to Yemen following the robbery, and repeatedly told authorities he would be returning to the United States. However, Garza said he remains outside the country.

At Wednesday's hearing in Waynesboro Circuit Court, a contrite Finch apologized for his "lack of judgement" and said he was using drugs at the time.

"I was really stupid," Finch said, briefly breaking into sobs.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison with all eight years suspended on the armed robbery charge, and given an automatic three years in prison on the gun conviction. He was also placed on three years of supervised probation and ordered to pay $2,300 in restitution.

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Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Suspect in armed robbery of Waynesboro business pleads guilty