NK resident’s tip leads to burglars’ arrest, conviction

Two Richmond men arrested on similar charges stemming from a January home burglary in New Kent are at the center of different outcomes in county circuit court.

Calvin Warren Knight, 21, of 2101 Beck Drive, pleaded guilty on May 5 to one count each of burglary and grand larceny. As part of a plea deal, a charge of conspiracy to commit burglary was dropped.

That same day, Eddie Lenard Akins, 19, of 3706 Vawter Ave., pleaded not guilty to all three, claiming to only have been along for the ride and unaware of what was going on when he, Knight, and Jessica Monique Mosley, 20, of 4204 Mylan Road, drove to New Kent last Jan. 18.

Judge Thomas B. Hoover, however, did not buy Akins’ story. The judge found the defendant guilty on all three counts, revoked bond, and placed Akins in jail until sentencing can be held in July.

Knight, meanwhile, was sentenced to 40 years in prison combined on the burglary and grand larceny counts with all but three years suspended for the next 20 years. Akins could face up to 45 years.

Events began to unfold on Jan. 18 when sheriff’s dispatchers received report of a suspicious vehicle with three occupants on Historical Path Road. A resident there provided the vehicle’s description. Deputies then scoured the area and found the vehicle parked along Old River Road with only Mosley inside.

Deputy Butch Gay testified he found a portable two-way radio in the vehicle and pressed the call button twice. On both occasions, he said, a male voice responded with “Yo.”

Mosley was then ordered to make radio contact, at which time the male voice asked, “Are the police there?” Gay told the court.

Both Knight and Akins emerged from nearby woods. They told deputies they were searching for a house to rent. Gay testified that the area is sparsely populated and there were no “for rent” signs nearby.

But with nothing to hold the trio on, all three were released after deputies jotted down personal information. Gay, however, told them that if any break-ins were reported, investigators would be back in touch.

A few hours later, the owner of a house on Old River Road, not far from where deputies encountered the trio, discovered a burglary. A coin collection along with a Nintendo game system was reported missing.

Deputies, using a bloodhound, found a duffle bag, also reported missing from the residence, near the location where the two men emerged from the woods. Inside were the coin collection and game system.

In his statement to investigators, Knight said the burglary was a stupid act that he attributed to his youth. He apologized during trial and asked the judge for another chance.

“This is your third offense,” Hoover shot back. “How can you be so dumb three times, other than you’re just a thief?”

Knight told the court he planned to break into a house in New Kent. Akins, in a separate trial, told the court he had no idea what Knight was up to on Jan. 18.

Akins testified that Knight entered the house on his own and took items. Akins claimed he stood on the front porch and smoked a cigarette while Knight was inside. He also said he just went along with Knight’s story to police about searching for rental property.

Knight testified against Akins, saying he discussed the burglary plan with his friend before leaving Richmond. Akins helped him enter through an unlocked rear window, Knight told the court.

In finding Akins guilty, Hoover said the defendant’s story about being totally in the dark did not make sense.

Mosley’s case, meanwhile, has not reached circuit court. Both Mosley and Knight are under indictment in Charles City County on burglary, grand larceny, and conspiracy charges.