Three separate cases end with prison sentences after shootings burglary spree and I 40 vehicle break ins
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Three criminal cases that stretched from a jailhouse shooting to a multi-day burglary spree and a string of vehicle break-ins along Interstate 40 reached their conclusion this week as Buncombe County prosecutors secured lengthy prison sentences against the defendants in Superior Court.
The Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that Angel Blanding, Bryan George Coleman, and Decario Davis were each sentenced in separate cases tied to violent offenses and organized property crimes. Prosecutors said the convictions reflect ongoing efforts to hold offenders accountable and protect public safety.
Nineteen-year-old Angel Blanding pleaded guilty to three counts of felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill. The charges stemmed from a March 8 incident at the Buncombe County Detention Facility sally port, where prosecutors said Blanding discharged a firearm while in custody, damaging law enforcement vehicles.
A Superior Court judge sentenced Blanding to between 25 and 42 months in the North Carolina Division of Adult Correction after imposing the top of the presumptive sentencing range.
In a separate case, 51-year-old Bryan George Coleman of Swannanoa was sentenced after pleading guilty to nine felony charges that were consolidated into a single conviction for First-Degree Burglary.
The conviction followed an investigation into a crime spree that unfolded between Feb. 3 and Feb. 5 and involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office IGRANT task force.
Coleman received a prison sentence of 97 to 129 months, also at the top of the presumptive sentencing range.
The third case involved 29-year-old Decario Davis, identified by prosecutors as the final defendant connected to the “I-40 Jeep burglar” investigation.
Davis entered guilty pleas to felony Breaking and Entering charges that resulted in three consecutive active judgments. He was sentenced to serve a total of 47 to 84 months in the North Carolina Division of Adult Correction.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Davis’ sentencing brings to a close a multi-jurisdictional investigation into organized vehicle thefts and break-ins along the Interstate 40 corridor.
“The resolution of these cases is a testament to the dedicated work of our local law enforcement partners,” Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams said in a statement. “By securing these sentences, we hold accountable those who threaten our community through violence and criminal activity.”
Key Points
- Three Buncombe County defendants received prison sentences in separate criminal cases resolved this week.
- Angel Blanding was sentenced to 25 to 42 months after pleading guilty to assault charges stemming from a jail sally port shooting.
- Bryan George Coleman received 97 to 129 months for a burglary conviction, while Decario Davis was sentenced to 47 to 84 months in the final case tied to the I-40 Jeep burglar investigation.
