Carter indicted on 5 charges

As expected, a New Kent Circuit Court grand jury has indicted John Steven Carter on five felony charges, paving the way for Carter’s second trial scheduled to proceed on Dec. 1.

The grand jury, convening Monday, indicted Carter, 58, on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts each of forgery and uttering in connection with a pair of traffic summonses.

Back in October following another trial, the self-described “medicinal botanist” was convicted of two felonies — marijuana manufacturing and possession of more than a half-ounce but less than five pounds of the drug with intent to distribute. Already, he faces up to 40 years in prison.

If convicted on the latest five charges, Carter faces a mandatory two years and up to five on the firearm count and another 40 years (up to 10 years each) on the forgery and uttering charges.

The latter four charges stem from a Nov. 28, 2006 traffic stop during which Carter allegedly forged the name of a deceased friend, William Benton, on the summonses.

The firearm count is related to an Oct. 14, 2008 incident in which Carter allegedly shot and killed 18 year-old Christopher Greene during a botched robbery. Greene and three other Williamsburg-area teens had traveled to Carter’s rental house in Lanexa that night intent on robbing Carter of drugs and cash. Investigators theorize Carter shot Greene with a .357 handgun and then hid the body in the back yard under a tarp and woodpile.

Commonwealth’s attorney Linwood Gregory elected not to directly indict Carter on a felony count of illegal disposal of a dead body. The charge was thrown out during a preliminary hearing in lower court.

Also on Monday, the grand jury indicted 11other individuals. Those indicted and the charges they face are:

–Peggy Lee Houston, 30, of 1534 Rogers Street, Richmond, on two counts each of forgery and uttering a public document. The charges stem from a pair of traffic summonses signed on July 24.

–Ervin Bernard Barnes, 58, of 5107 Tiffanywoods Lane, Henrico, on one count of driving after being declared a habitual offender. Barnes was arrested on July 23.

–Jesse Walker Everhart, 18, of 351 LaSalle Ave., Hampton, on one count of eluding police in connection with an incident on Aug. 7.

–Daniel Neal Balfour, 39, of 6021 Tucker’s Pine Lane, Barhamsville, on one count of felony marijuana distribution stemming from an alleged incident on July 29.

–Jasmine Danyell Burrell, 20, of 2323 Bethel Street, Richmond; Michael Davon Gregory, 21, and Tiffany Renea Smith, 24, both of 2314 Whitcomb Court, Richmond, on one count each of burglary, grand larceny, and child abuse. On Sept. 23, the trio allegedly broke into the residence of Daniel Powell and stole unspecified items. A child was found in the trio’s vehicle, hence the child abuse count.

–Maurice Thomas Lewis, 20, of 6300 Hickory Road, Quinton, on two counts of grand larceny stemming from the alleged theft of a Sony camcorder, jewelry, and other property from the residence of William H. Morey on Aug. 14.

–Gilbert Lee Smith III, 38, of 2588 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on March 28.

–Michael Brandon Walls, 25, of 6501 Lakeshore Drive, Quinton, on one count of abduction. Walls allegedly held Morgen Walls against her will on Sept. 3.

–Jarvis Bacola Williams, 42, of 9030 Old Elam Cemetery Road, Charles City, on one count of third offense petty larceny, which is a felony. Williams allegedly took t-shirts from Zota’s convenience store in Providence Forge on July 25.