News

Asheville 20-year-old sentenced to 51-74 months for felony robbery

Asheville 20-year-old sentenced to 51-74 months for felony robbery

Re'al Samuel Wells, 20, was sentenced to 51-74 months in prison for a felony robbery. Photo: Contributed/Buncombe County Sheriff's Office


ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Re’al Samuel Wells, 20, was sentenced to 51-74 months of prison time after he pled guilty to a Class D felony robbery.

Wells was also given a consecutive 30-day suspended sentenced and 12 months of subsequent supervised probation after release for a firearm offense.

The Asheville man was sentenced by Buncombe County Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Grant.

Two 2025 incidents

Wells was sentenced for two separate incidents that took place in 2025.

The robbery occurred on Aug. 14, 2025, near Avalon Park Circle in Arden, N.C. The Asheville Police Department investigated a report of an armed robbery and carjacking. The victim said that Wells and another defendant were held at gunpoint after the victim arrived at a residence to meet an acquaintance. The victim was forced back into his vehicle before he was dropped off several miles away, unharmed. The perpetrators fled with the vehicle and the victim’s personal property. Officers later found stolen items at a Reed Street residence and took Wells into custody.

The firearm charge stemmed from an Oct. 19, 2025, shooting investigated by APD.

“Prosecutors noted that victims present in the vehicle during the October incident were initially reluctant to come forward and identify the male occupant accompanying them,” the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office wrote in a press release.

“Every resident deserves to feel safe on their streets and in their homes, and we are committed to working with city of Asheville law enforcement to hold accountable those who use firearms to threaten public safety,” District Attorney Todd Williams said.

Recent Headlines

20 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

Ella Langley leads Country Music Association Awards nods, with mentor Miranda Lambert close behind

Ella Langley, riding the wave of her crossover megahit "Choosin' Texas," leads the nominations for the 2026 Country Music Association Awards with nine nods, followed by her mentor Miranda Lambert with six.

23 hours ago in Entertainment, Native Advertising

Things to do in Asheville and WNC: Sept. 11-13

Mountain Song Festival, Carolina Mountains Literary Festival, Brews & Bears, Asheville Tattoo Arts Festival, Little Feat and Railway Races are among the weekend events across WNC.

2 days ago in Entertainment

It’s ‘Pitt’ vs ‘Pluribus’ in drama and ‘Hacks’ vs ‘Widow’s Bay’ in comedy at the upcoming Emmys

It's "The Pitt" versus "Pluribus" and "Hacks" against "Widow's Bay" at the 78th Emmy Awards on Monday night. The stars of all four shows — Noah Wyle in "The Pitt," Rhea Seehorn in "Pluribus," Jean Smart in "Hacks" and Matthew Rhys in "Widow's Bay" — look to be runaway favorites for the top acting awards.

3 days ago in Entertainment

An Elon Musk documentary and a Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem thriller premiere at Venice

A slew of high-profile films are debuting Tuesday at the Venice Film Festival, including Alex Gibney's Elon Musk documentary, a psychological thriller with Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, and a drama from Casey Affleck.

6 days ago in Arts & Culture, Asheville History, Entertainment, Local, Outdoors

Asheville documentary about George Masa to tour Japan

Following the April premiere of "A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story," a documentary about Appalachian Trail photographer George Masa, filmmaker Paul Bonesteel will be taking his movie to Japan, Masa's home country, for a four-stop tour.