Briefly… for March 14-27, 2013

NK car theft defendant sentenced

A Richmond man is being placed in an alternative corrections program as part of his sentencing after pleading guilty to a grand larceny charge.

Jacques Ishmael Botts, 19, of 6014 Newington Drive, Richmond, was sentenced on March 4 in New Kent Circuit Court to the state Department of Corrections’ detention program and will also attend the state’s diversion program after that.

Botts admitted he stole a Honda Accord belonging to Earnest Kopacki last Nov. 6. He eventually wrecked the vehicle on Interstate 64 near the Bottoms Bridge exit where he abandoned the vehicle. Botts also received charges for hit and run, misdemeanor purchasing of alcohol, and driving without a license.

Because of Botts’ young age and a presentencing report that suggested his actions were spontaneous coupled with a lack of a criminal record, Judge Thomas B. Hoover elected to sentence the defendant to both detention and diversion programs at the recommendation of Commonwealth’s attorney Linwood Gregory. Botts must pay $2,800 in restitution for damage to the vehicle and $700 in fines for the two misdemeanor charges. He has a total of 16 years in prison suspended that he may face if he fails to complete the programs.

Fugitive arrested at NK traffic stop

A Newport News man wanted on charges incurred in York County has been arrested in New Kent following a traffic stop by a county deputy sheriff.

Gene Allen Frodge, 37 of the 800 block of Cheyenne Drive, was taken into custody by Deputy Wyatt Johnston following a Feb. 26 traffic stop on Interstate 64. A vehicle driven by Naroger Carter Jr. (age and address unavailable) passed through radar at 117 miles per hour. Johnston stopped the vehicle in the westbound lanes near mile marker 209. Frodge, a passenger in the vehicle, was turned over to York authorities. Johnston charged Carter with reckless driving and driving on a suspended license.

Party-goer faces theft, other charges

A Lanexa woman faces four felony charges for her alleged involvement in theft of jewelry, cash, and a laptop computer from a residence on Homestead Road in New Kent County while attending a party on Feb. 17 at the home.

Marissa Sable Espinosa, 18, of the 9400 block of Richmond Road, is charged with one count each of grand larceny and larceny with intent to sell along with two counts of conspiracy to commit grand larceny. Deputy Tim Davis arrested the suspect on March 9.

Action on parking lots postponed

New Kent’s Board of Supervisors tabled action Monday night on amending county law that would require paving new business parking lots with 50 or more spaces in areas zoned for agriculture. Current law sets the minimum at 20.

District 4 Supervisor Ron Stiers requested postponement until at least the board’s April 8 meeting, citing a need for county staff to conduct a study on how amending the law could affect existing businesses.

Clarifications

At Charles City’s Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 26, supervisors passed a resolution to name the bridge near the intersection of Route 5 and Route 155 after Deputy Michael C. Walizer. The resolution has been sent to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), and it will be up to the CTB to either accept or deny the request.

In the photo caption for “Hope from Charles City” in the Feb. 28 edition, Charles City High School and the children’s Bible study group from Samaria Baptist Church also assisted in creating more than 200 HOPE bracelets.