Charges certified in attempted robbery

A Schuyler man who police said tried to rob an ATM user in Scottsville will have his case go before a grand jury next month.

General District Judge David B. Franzen certified an attempted robbery charge Thursday against 26-year-old Jason Edward Via after a short preliminary hearing. Andrew Sneathern, an Albemarle assistant commonwealth’s attorney, said he would not prosecute a misdemeanor vandalism charge.

Authorities said a man was using the drive-through ATM Aug. 9 at the BB&T in Scottsville when another man came up to him and tried to rob him. The car’s window was broken in the process.
Albemarle police Officer David Hutchinson testified Thursday that Via told him that the victim had a problem with one of his friends and he intended to assault the victim when he saw him at the bank. However, the victim said in Albemarle General District Court that he didn’t know Via or a few people associated with him.

Via remains out on bond. His case will go before a grand jury on Oct. 6.