Robbery Suspect Strikes Again While Wearing GPS Monitor, Police Say

A man robbed a woman at gunpoint in Tysons Corner, Virginia earlier this month -- and was caught quickly because he was wearing a GPS monitor that placed him at the scene of the crime.

Fairfax County police say John Hudspeth robbed a woman using an ATM the evening of Sunday, August 23. Data from a GPS ankle bracelet issued by Prince William County after he was charged with two other armed robberies showed he was at the bank then, court documents say.

A woman was using an ATM about 8:15 p.m. when a man walked behind her.

"He yelled, 'Drop your phone!'" she said. "When I turned around and looked, he had the gun on me," the victim continued, asking not to be named.

The woman gave the gunman her cash and her phone, and he fled.

Hudspeth was arrested after police saw the report from the GPS bracelet, which he was given as he awaited trial on charges he committed two armed robberies and an attempted armed robbery.

The woman robbed in Tysons Corner said the device didn't prevent the accused robber from striking again. But the Prince William County Office of Criminal Justice Services says nothing went wrong in the case.

"Mr. Hudspeth has been provided great latitude by the Courts for travel due to work purposes, as he is an IT professional without a fixed office location," a statement from the office said. "On the day in question, he was permitted to be in the vicinity in question for his job."

The statement goes on to say the monitoring system can show the whereabouts of an individual but not what he or she is doing.

Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert said the case raises questions.

"It's very concerning," he said. "The purpose of the monitor is to prevent something like this from happening, but obviously it didn't work in this case."

Hudspeth's bond was revoked, putting him back in jail.

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