Two sentenced as part of plea deals in unrelated New Kent Circuit Court cases

By Andre Jones | December 14, 2015 10:38 pm

A Quinton woman who entered an Alford plea of guilty to one count of grand larceny and obtaining money by false pretense in October will serve six months in jail.

Samantha Jo Strickland, 26, received the sentence during Monday morning New Kent Circuit proceedings. In her previous trial, Strickland stipulated that evidence would reveal that she pawned stolen jewelry belonging to Shannon Wooten at Gold and Silver Mine in New Kent.

Strickland received a 10-year sentence on the grand larceny charge with all but nine years, six months suspended. The obtaining money by false pretenses was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor. She also must pay $3,773 in restitution.

In an unrelated matter, a Richmond man accepted a plea agreement and will serve at least a year and a half incarcerated.

Dylan Matthew Hunt, 26, of the 500 block of Lafayette Avenue, entered guilty pleas to one felony count each of DUI (third offense) and driving revoked (DUI related).

In a summary of evidence, shortly before 2 a.m. on Aug. 11, a be-on-the-lookout alert was issued for a vehicle traveling on Interstate 64 westbound in which the driver’s side door was open. An officer saw the vehicle and clocked it at 100 miles per hour at the Talleysville exit and conducted a traffic stop. Upon retrieving information on the driver, it was determined that Hunt was driving revoked. After being taken into custody, a breathalyzer test was initiated at Henrico Jail East with the defendant blowing .14, which is nearly twice the legal limit.

Under the agreement, Hunt received a five-year sentence on the DUI offense, with four years, nine months suspended. (The three-month to serve is a state-mandated sentence). He also received a five-year sentence for driving revoked, with all five years suspended under the condition he qualifies for the Detention and Diversion program. If he does not qualify, he will serve an active one-year term in jail, which is also a minimum mandatory sentence required by state statute.