Father and son burglary duo learn fates in CC Circuit Court

A father and son duo who burglarized multiple houses learned their respective fates during Nov. 22 Charles City Circuit Court proceedings.

David Scott Yates Sr., 45, and David Scott Yates Jr., 22, both formerly of the 4500 block of Rockinghorse Lane, accepted responsibility for crimes each committed earlier in the year.
Yates Jr. accepted a plea deal at an earlier Oct. 18 trial where he admitted guilt to one count of grand larceny. At that trial, the defendant admitted he stole copper from a Dominion Virginia Power substation on Chambers Road. Yates Jr. received a formal sentence of 10 years in prison, with all time suspended, but will remain on probation during that time frame.

Yates Sr. accepted a deal, pleading guilty to three counts of grand larceny and one count of burglary. Two counts of grand larceny, one count of burglary, one count of each of possession of burglary tools and possession with intent to distribute, three misdemeanor counts of petty larceny and one misdemeanor count of destruction of property were dropped.

In a summary of events provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler, Yates Sr. broke into the home of Edward and Karen Spain, who were moving out, between March 20 and April 28. The family called authorities after items were noticed missing. Authorities conducted an investigation, resulting in an encounter with Yates Sr., who had some of the items on his property. More details revealed some of the items had been pawned at shops in Maryland and Virginia.

Two other grand larcenies were the result of direct indictments received on Nov. 7. Defense counsel and Tyler agreed to add direct indictments into the proceedings as part of the plea deal. The defendant admitted that in those crimes, he stole tractor parts from the property of Amy Wynne and truck parts from Tyler Sweatt and sold the parts for money on May 17.

A pre-sentencing report is being prepared, but sentencing guidelines suggest Yates Sr. could serve a term from one year, eight months to four years, two months. A maximum sentence of 20 years on each charge (totaling 80 years) may be faced by the defendant. Formal sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 24.