Handgun theft nets Charles City man 5 years in prison
the court her client already has a 38-year prison sentence with 11 active years to serve for crimes committed in Williamsburg/James City County. She said White has been on a “very downward spiral” and has been under the influence of negative people.
“All we have is it’s always the wrong crowd,” Boyd responded, noting White has a previous criminal record for carrying a concealed weapon.
“He gets back out in the world and within four months he’s breaking into a car and stealing a gun,” the prosecutor said.
August asked the court to impose a sentence close to the low end of the state’s sentencing guidelines, which would be three years, nine months, but Hoover refused.
“Here’s the point,” he told August. “He steals a gun, puts it out on the street, and it’s used in another crime. That makes it serious.”
The judge sentenced White to 10 years in prison with five years suspended for the next 25 years. He declined to grant August’s request that the five years run concurrently with the defendant’s Williamsburg/James City time.
In another, unrelated case last Friday, a Charles City man pleaded guilty to one count of felony marijuana possession with intent to distribute.
James Irvin Wright, 22, of 8101 Adkins Road, entered an Alford plea whereby he maintains innocence but stipulates evidence in the matter would be sufficient for a conviction.
Last March 18, the sheriff’s office received report of suspicious vehicles on Adkins Road (Route 618) at the intersection of Indian Road (Route 647), Boyd told the court. Deputy Javier Smith investigated and detected the odor of marijuana after approaching the vehicles.
Boyd said Wright admitted to having marijuana. A search of the defendant’s vehicle turned up 14 bags of the drug stuffed under the car’s seat. Total weight of the marijuana exceeded a half-ounce, making the crime a felony. Wright told investigators he had been selling marijuana for about six months, Boyd added.
Hoover questioned Wright about personal drug use. The defendant told the judge he last used marijuana about three to four weeks ago. A drug test ordered by the judge proved Wright to be correct.
Wright remains free on bond until sentencing is held in February. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Also last Friday, a Hopewell man pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence, his third offense in the past five years.
As part of a plea deal, charges of driving in violation of a restricted license and speeding (60/45) lodged against Russell Eric Lenard, 31, of 1022 Maplewood Ave., were dropped.
Lenard was arrested on Aug. 4 after a State Police trooper stopped the vehicle he was driving for speeding. A breath test revealed the defendant had a blood/alcohol level of .16, twice the legal limit for driving drunk.
Hoover sentenced Lenard to five years in prison with four years, 11 months suspended for the next 20 years. The defendant has 11 months to serve. The judge also imposed a $1,000 fine and ordered Lenard to pay state-mandated civil remedial fees that total $3,000.