Virginia Beach man with long burglary record granted geriatric release after nearly 35 years

The Virginia Parole Board has granted parole to Michael McCoy Duncan, whose record includes dozens of burglary and larceny counts convictions in Virginia Beach, according to the board's September 2026 decisions report.

The board's September report lists Duncan, 62, as granted geriatric conditional release, with a decision date of Sept. 11 and certification on Sept. 14. His record lists 39 offense entries, including 24 counts of burglary (entering a structure to commit larceny), eight grand larceny counts and two credit card theft counts, mostly in Virginia Beach Circuit Court in 1992 and 2001, plus burglary convictions in Newport News Circuit Court in 2001 and in Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court in 2002. The report estimates he has served 34 years, 9 months and 5 days.

This newsroom could not locate contemporaneous news coverage of the burglaries, so the facts here are limited to the board record. The record shows no homicide, sexual or weapons convictions.

Prior and repeat offenses: Duncan's convictions span at least three periods: 1992 Virginia Beach burglaries and larcenies, including a third-or-subsequent petty larceny; a December 1992 statutory burglary; and a 2001-2002 series of burglaries in Virginia Beach, Newport News and Williamsburg-James City County, including a third-or-subsequent larceny. He was also convicted in Powhatan County Circuit Court in 2015 of possession of a cellular phone by a prisoner.

The board's stated reasons: The board's listed reasons included strong work-assignment performance, correctional and vocational programs, no victim opposition, demonstrated rehabilitation, educational milestones, clear acceptance of responsibility, stable family relationships, long-term goal setting, a low risk-assessment score, insight into the factors behind the crime, consistently positive staff reports, vocational achievements, infraction-free conduct for at least 24 months, positive leadership roles, a stable release plan and completion of treatment with demonstrated skills.

The Sept. 10 minutes record a 4-0 vote. The Victim Services Team said "the victim does not recall the incident." Board Member Valerie Boykin said she concluded he had served enough time, and Vice Chair Kecia Brothers Hayes cited significant community support and educational advancement.

How the decision was made: At the Sept. 10 meeting, held in person and electronically at the board's offices on Atmore Drive in Richmond, each candidate addressed the board by teleconference after a summary of victim input, and Chair Shannon Dion then called on each member to vote and state reasons, according to the minutes, which the board approved on Oct. 1. The September report notes that the offenses it lists include all offenses for which a person has been serving time, whether or not they are parole-eligible.

Crime trends in Virginia Beach: According to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services report "Virginia Index Crime and Drug Arrest Trends 2016-2025," published in August 2026 using Virginia State Police crime repository data, Virginia Beach recorded 98.5 violent index crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, compared with 155.9 in 2016, down 37% over the decade. Its property crime rate was 1,480.2 per 100,000 in 2025, compared with 2,186.5 in 2016, down 32%. Nearby, Newport News recorded 801.8 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, up 70% from 472.7 in 2016, and 2,331.6 property crimes per 100,000, down 24% from 3,065.1. Statewide, DCJS reported 210.5 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, down 7% from 2024 and 14% from 2023; the median rate among Virginia's counties and independent cities was 172.9. DCJS notes that the repository receives rolling updates, so the rates may be revised.

Across September, the board decided 85 parole cases and granted 7, according to its monthly decisions report, a grant rate of about 8.2% for the month, down from about 32% (14 of 44) in August. It denied the other 78. Separately, it decided four parole-violation cases, revoking parole in two, continuing parole in one and discharging one person from supervision. All seven grants were voted on at the board's Sept. 10 meeting, with four members present; Board Member Kevin White was absent, according to the approved minutes. All five current board members were appointed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger on March 4, 2026, and confirmed by the General Assembly in March.

Parole in Virginia is supervised release: the board sets conditions and can revoke parole and return a person to prison for violations, as it did in two revocation cases in September. The board's report does not give a release date or say where Duncan will live.

Newport News is an independent city in Hampton Roads.

Richmond is an independent city in the Richmond region.

Virginia Beach is an independent city in Hampton Roads.

Williamsburg is an independent city in Hampton Roads.

Powhatan County is a county in the Richmond region. Its county seat is Powhatan.

Email Abigail Spanberger at:
abigail.spanberger@governor.virginia.gov

James City County is a county in Hampton Roads. Its county seat is Williamsburg, an independent city.