Delaware State Police News Release Timothy E. Winstead

DSP News Release: Sunday, April 05, 2009- Three Subjects Charged in Beating Robbery of Mentally Challenged Man

Location of Incident: Laurel Village Mobile Home Park, Laurel, Delaware, Sussex County

Date and Time of Occurrence: April 3^rd, at approximately 10:30 p.m.

Suspect(s):

Jeffrey Chambers, 18, of Bethel, Delaware
James Walls, 17, of Laurel, Delaware
Frank Walls, 17, of Laurel, Delaware

Resume: State Police detectives have made an arrest in the robbery of a mentally challenged subject from Friday night.

The 31-year-old victim, who functions at a middle school level, was walking home from his brother’s house, after watching a movie, in the Laurel Village Mobile Home Park. He was on Cottonwood Road when he was approached by three subjects: Jeffrey Chambers, James Walls and Frank Walls. The three subjects allegedly assaulted the victim, drug him into a nearby wooded area and beat him. They took his keys and wallet and left him lying on the ground.

The victim got to his feet and made his way home. Once inside the residence, he collapsed and fell asleep. On the morning of April 4^th, the victim’s mother woke up and found her son injured. She took him to the hospital where he was treated for a concussion, along with other superficial injuries.

Detectives who worked the case were able to generate three possible suspects and they were in turn apprehended.

The two brothers, James and Frank Walls, along with Jeffrey Chambers, were successfully implicated in this robbery and formally charged with the following felony offenses: Robbery, Assault 2^nd and Conspiracy 2^nd. All three subjects were each ordered held at the appropriate detention facility, in regards to their ages, on a $20,000.00 secured bond.