New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 29, 2024

Drug-driven lifestyle father granted first offender status

By Alan Chamberlain | May 21, 2008 10:14 am

A New Kent father, whose drug-driven family lifestyle was revealed during his March trial on child endangerment and cocaine possession charges, has been placed on first offender status.

James K. Plante, 48, of 3800 Pocahontas Trail in Quinton, is on one year’s probation and must complete drug treatment as well as 100 hours of community service as part of his conviction on the possession charge. The sentence was handed down on May 5 in New Kent Circuit Court.

County Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory agreed to the sentence as recommended by a court probation officer, but said he would “vigorously seek incarceration” if Plante fails to abide by the court’s order.

Judge Thomas B. Hoover also agreed to the sentence after considering Plante’s employment record. The defendant has worked for the same company for the past 17 years.

“That’s unusual for someone with drug issues,” the judge said.

Plante was arrested last Aug. 29 after county deputies responded to the Star Motel on Route 60 for an unrelated matter. Plante and his 17-year-old daughter and son, age 16, were living there at the time after losing their house.

A deputy approaching Plante’s room detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside. Plante told the deputy the odor emanated from perfume, but a search turned up several devices used for smoking marijuana and crack cocaine hidden about the room.

The defendant’s daughter testified during Plante’s March 3 trial that she routinely did drugs after her dad had left for work. Pipe stems found in the room belonged to her brother, she said.

She testified that when deputies showed up at the motel, her father announced their arrival. She and her brother along with another boy bailed out a back window, but she returned soon after and the brother and the friend were found hiding behind the motel.

She told the court her father was a former crack head, her mother was in a halfway house in Chesterfield County, and her brother was in a group home in Richmond. She said she was being held in juvenile detention on charges relating to the August incident as well as a charge from another jurisdiction.

“What an awful story I’ve heard your daughter tell me about your home life,” Hoover told Plante during the trial.

The judge dismissed two counts of child endangerment, but found Plante guilty on the possession charge, noting the defendant obviously knew about the ongoing drug activity and did nothing to stop it.

“Mr. Plante cannot simply take the ostrich approach and close his eyes and stick his head in the sand,” the judge said, adding that the defendant’s perfume comment showed criminal intent to throw off police and hide the drug paraphernalia found in the room.

Provided Plante stays out of trouble while on probation, the possession charge will be dismissed in a year.