Waynesboro man pleads guilty in gang attack

By Tony Gonzalez

Published: November 5, 2008

A second Waynesboro man pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of assault and gang participation in relation to a May 10 beating at a gas station.

Robby Maybush, 19, faces 10 years in prison for the gang charge.

The incident began when Maybush and 20-year-old Joshua Talley shouted at Garrett and Katrina Spears as they walked past the Sunoco gas station at 420 N. Poplar Ave., Assistant Attorney General Phil Figura said during Talley’s August hearing.

Figura gave the following account:

After the woman and Maybush shouted at one another, Katrina Spears kicked Maybush while Talley attacked Garrett Spears. Another car pulled up and other gang members climbed out and joined the attack.

Talley’s defense attorney gave a different account of the events:

Talley was pumping gas when Garrett and Katrina Spears walked by. Garrett Spears and Maybush began arguing and Maybush hit Garrett Spears in the face. Then Talley “made a poor decision” and jumped in.

Figura said the attack may have been to draw a relative of the victims — a known gang member — into a fight.

Talley pleaded guilty to a felony charge of participating in a criminal act as part of a gang and to a misdemeanor charge for assaulting Garrett Spears and is scheduled for sentencing Dec. 15. A charge that Talley assaulted a woman in the incident was dropped.

Talley and Maybush are in custody at Middle River Regional Jail in Verona.