Legal Question in Criminal Law in Virginia

You most likely mean what if the complaining witness accepted an

inducement, i.e., bribe, to recant his or her complaint and refused to testify

for the Commonwealth in the prosecution of the case?

Answer: If such were proven, this witness could at the very least

be prosecuted for obstruction of justice and the defendant (your boyfriend)

prosecuted for same as well other possible charges, including witness and/or

evidence tampering, in addition to the robbery charge.

All of that, of course, could translate into some serious time in the penitentiary

for him if he were convicted of these offenses.

Time, probably, for Plan B in consultation with his honest and competent defense counsel to formulate a legal strategy and/or tactics to defend

against this serious felony charge rather than this forlorn and doomed(not to mentioned patently illegal) idea which you've referenced in your question.