Wilmington, Delaware – A man in New Castle County has been found guilty of assault, robbery, and a weapons charge after a violent jewelry heist in 2022. Calvin Ushery, 40, was convicted by a jury on Thursday following about two hours of deliberation. The robbery, which took place at the now-defunct Solid Gold Jewelers in downtown Wilmington, gained national attention after surveillance footage of the attack circulated.
This was the second trial for Ushery, with the first attempt ending in a mistrial when jurors were unable to reach a verdict. Leading up to the latest trial, Ushery rejected two plea deals that would have capped his potential sentence at 25 or 20 years. Prosecutors are now considering whether to seek habitual offender status for Ushery, which could significantly increase his potential sentence range.
The violent nature of the robbery was captured on surveillance video, showing a man wearing a mask and sunglasses entering the store in the morning. The footage depicts the attacker striking the 68-year-old store owner with a hammer before stealing jewelry and fleeing the scene. The owner spent four days in intensive care following the incident.
Prosecutors presented evidence to the jury, including surveillance footage of Ushery attempting to sell large amounts of jewelry at local pawn shops just a week after the robbery. Ushery was arrested with jewelry identified as stolen from the store, and his phone records placed him in the vicinity of the crime at the time it occurred.
During the trial, the prosecution highlighted visual and forensic evidence linking Ushery to the robbery. They emphasized similarities in appearance between Ushery and the robber, as well as cell phone data placing him near the scene. Deputy Attorney General Jamie McCloskey asserted that the evidence showed beyond a reasonable doubt that Ushery committed the robbery.
In his defense, Ushery’s attorney argued that detectives unfairly focused on him as the suspect once he was found with stolen jewelry. The defense presented witnesses, including Ushery’s daughter, who testified that he had won the jewelry in a dice game. The defense also pointed out inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case, including differences in the description of a bicycle linked to the robbery.
The jury ultimately found Ushery guilty, and he is set to be sentenced in July. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of surveillance footage and forensic evidence in criminal trials, showcasing the intricate process of piecing together events to achieve justice.