Prison term imposed in CC

Charles City man must serve a one-year prison term stemming from a police chase the covered 10 miles at speeds over 80 miles an hour over county roads.

Ronnie Sylvester Mabry Jr., 21, of 7641 Ruthville Road, Providence Forge, received the sentence on March 21 in Charles City Circuit Court. Judge Thomas B. Hoover imposed five years in prison with all but the one year suspended for the next 10 years. Mabry must also pay a total of $3,000 in civil remedial fees over the next 26 months unless the state takes action to repeal the fees.

As part of a plea deal, Mabry pleaded guilty during a Jan. 8 trial to one felony count of eluding police. Two misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and driving on a suspended license were dropped.

Mabry was arrested last Aug. 11 at the end of a pursuit that covered most of Willcox Neck Road. The chase ended when Mabry’s vehicle experienced mechanical problems, but deputies had to forcibly remove the defendant.

During sentencing, Hoover noted that even though Mabry made bond on the charges, the defendant continued to drive on a suspended license, incurring two more violations.

In January, Hoover revoked the defendant’s bond, ordering Mabry held in jail until sentencing.

“This is not a one-time offense, and it gives me a lot of concern,” the judge said.

Mabry, meanwhile, apologized for his actions, saying, “I know what I did was wrong, and I take full responsibility for my actions.”

Mabry was given credit for time already served and will be allowed work release while incarcerated.

In another unrelated sentencing on March 21, Hoover granted first offender status for a Charles City man who pleaded guilty during a Jan. 8 trial to a pair of felonies — marijuana possession with intent to distribute and possession of the narcotic painkiller oxycodone.

James Edward Black III, 26, of 6950 Courthouse Road, Providence Forge, was arrested following a traffic stop last July 4 on Route 155. A search of his vehicle turned up eight bags of marijuana, totaling just under five ounces, stashed in the truck along with a pill bottle containing six oxycodone tablets.

Hoover agreed to a motion at sentencing by defense attorney Elliott Bondurant to reconsider the matter. Bondurant asked for first offender status on the oxycodone charge and a delay in sentencing for the marijuana count.

Hoover agreed to make no finding of guilt for now. The judge imposed first offender status, meaning Black, who has no prior criminal record, is on probation for one year. At the end of the probation period and provided Black has stayed out of trouble, the charge will be dismissed.

Sentencing on the marijuana charge has been postponed for a year, and the charge will be reduced to possession as an accommodation if Black abides by terms of probation. The defendant, meanwhile, must complete 100 hours of community service.

Hoover admonished Black, urging the defendant not to run afoul of the law.

“Make sure you have no problems over the next year,” the judge told the defendant. “If you have any charge, you’re going to serve felony time.

“Some people walk out of here with a good ending and think it’s no big deal,” the judge added. “Don’t make that mistake.”