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Williamsburg man given 45 years in prison for 2009 murder

Mark Xavier Wallace of Williamsburg was sentenced to 45 years in prison in the 2009 murder in Newport News.
Credit: Micha? Chodyra
Photo: Thinkstock

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WVEC) — Mark Xavier Wallace of Williamsburg was sentenced Monday to 45 years in prison for his role in a 2009 murder in Newport News, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia G. Zachary Terwilliger said.

Wallace, 37, was convicted following a jury trial on April 17, along with co-defendants Joseph James Cain Benson, of Boston, and Bryan Lamar Brown, of Newport News, the news release said.

“We will remain steadfast in our fight against violent crime in Tidewater and are increasing our resources as we speak,” Terwilliger said.

"Wallace was the leader of a crew that brutally murdered Louis Joseph in his home in 2009. Today’s sentence reflects what happens to those commit heinous crimes of violence."

According to court documents, Louis Joseph Jr., was beaten and shot multiple times at his Denbigh home while he babysat a 5-year-old child.

Wallace organized the home invasion and recruited Benson and another individual to commit the home invasion of Joseph to obtain money and drugs, the news release said.

Brown drove the co-defendants to Joseph’s house and also supplied the two firearms to commit the murder. Benson and at least one other man entered Joseph's home, beat him and shot him multiple times.

Benson was sentenced to life on July 24. Brown was sentenced to 45 years on July 19.

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