Guilty plea entered in service station robbery

A 19-year-old man pleaded guilty Thursday for the armed robbery of a Manassas gas station in May.

Jose Alberto Miranda Aguilar, of 8425 Sunset Drive in Manassas, pleaded guilty in Prince William Circuit Court to robbery and use or display of a firearm in commission of a felony.

Prosecutors said that Miranda Aguilar robbed the Citgo service station at 8356 Sudley Road in Manassas shortly after midnight on May 17.

A store clerk exited a side door to take out the trash slightly before midnight, prosecutors said.

When the clerk was returning to the station, Miranda Aguilar approached him, grabbed him and pointed a black pistol at his head, according to court testimony.

He told the store clerk to turn off the alarm and empty the store's cash register, which had $265 in it.

Miranda Aguilar stole the money and went through the clerk's pockets for other things to steal, prosecutors said.

The store clerk was eventually able to get Miranda Aguilar out of the store and call police.

Miranda Aguilar was arrested after robbing a nearby 7-Eleven store the next night, prosectors said.

A police K-9 unit was able to track a scent from the 7-Eleven to Miranda-Aguilar's house.

The Citgo clerk identified him as the man who had robbed the gas station the night before.

Miranda Aguilar confessed to both robberies. He said the gun used was not a real pistol, but was a pellet gun.

Miranda Aguilar is set to be sentenced on Dec. 12. Prosecutors are recommending he serve five years in prison.

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.