Teenager saves VB woman from brutal attack with brick; the attacker gets 21 years

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Virginia Beach man was sentenced this week to 21 years in prison for beating a woman with a brick.

Bobby Bland, 63, pleaded guilty in February.

The attack took place on October 23, 2023, less than a week after the victim kicked Bland out of her home in the Witchduck neighborhood of Virginia Beach.

The commonwealth's attorney said the victim woke up to find Bland breaking the sliding glass door with a brick. He hit her in the head with the brick, then hit her another 10 to 15 times while shouting that he was going to kill her.

Jessica Randolph and her son J'Mari Randolph lived next door and heard the victim's cries for help.

“I saw his phone fall to the ground,” J’Mari said. “Everything calmed down and I said to myself, 'I'm going to end this.' I walked around the car and saw Bobby hitting her with a brick, so I told him to stop…”

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But Randolph said he wouldn't stop beating the woman.

“I was like, ‘You need to get rid of her. It's not good. And then he finally listened once I drew my gun.

Randolph held Bland at gunpoint until police arrived.

Before that, his mother had called 9-1-1. Once she realized her son was controlling Bland, she helped the victim until first responders could treat him.

The woman survived, but according to the commonwealth's attorney, she suffered lacerations to her head, a brain hemorrhage and injuries to her fingers.

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The Randolphs say they didn't know their neighbor well before that October night, but Jessica added, “I can say that this incident brought us closer together.”

We have not heard from the victim, but J'Mari said she is extremely grateful.

“She thanks me every day for that,” J’Mari said. “I just tell him, 'I would like someone to help me if I was in this difficult situation.' Every time she sees me, she hugs me and thanks me.

Bland was convicted of intentional wounding, lawful burglary of a building with intent to commit rape/robbery/murder/arson, as well as assault and battery.

Circuit Court Judge Steven C. Mahan sentenced Bland to 20 years and 12 months in prison. This sentence was well above the high end of Virginia's state sentencing guidelines, which recommended a sentence of no more than five years and ten months.

The victim continues to recover, but neighbors say she is in good spirits.

News 3 will host a special report on domestic violence on June 23 at 8 p.m. on WTKR.