Charles City man receives no active time of incarceration for abduction

A Charles City man who prevented a county employee from leaving after doing their job will serve no active time of incarceration.

Joseph E. Brown, 57, of the 7300 block of Trevors Road, received formal sentencing on one count of abduction during Friday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court.

During an Feb. 19 contested trial, evidence presented that on July 10, 2020, an employee of Charles City County was conducting stormwater and property inspections. Brown’s property was inspected as one due to previous past complaints. After noticing that Brown was in compliance, the employee left.

Shortly afterwards, the employee was inspecting another property when Brown followed the employee and blocked the victim in. When the victim tried to leave, Brown prevented them from doing so. The victim eventually was able to drive on grass and get around the defendant’s truck. Under state statute and based on a ruling from Judge B. Elliott Bondurant at that trial, the criteria to render a guilty verdict for abduction were met.

During formal sentencing, Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler recommended no jail time for the defendant.

“While this isn’t the most heinous of crimes or what most people think when they hear abduction, he still was in the wrong,” Tyler commented. “We offered him a plea deal down to a misdemeanor, but when it was rejected, it’s my job to prove that an abduction took place, and the facts of the case were presented.”

Brown received a three-year jail sentence with all time suspended. He will be only responsible for court costs.

In an unrelated man, a Suffolk man will enter into the First Offender’s Program after pleading guilty to possession of a Schedule I/II drug.

Nipun Chhabra, 24, of the 5100 block of Hunters Creek Place, admitted to the crime as part of a plea agreement reached.

In a summary of evidence, on Nov. 14, 2020, a Charles City officer patrolling on John Tyler Memorial Highway saw some vehicles parked on the side of the road for the annual Cap-2-Cap Bike Ride. When one of these vehicles were parked on the road, the officer approached the vehicle to get the driver to pull further to the side. The officer noticed the driver slumped over the center console and tapped on the door.

After receiving no response and several attempts to get the driver’s attention, the officer forced their way into the car. After noticing a plastic bag with white powder and still not receiving a response, the officer used Narcan, an item used to help with drug overdoses, to revive the drive, now identified as Chhabra. After removing the defendant and placing him into custody, his car was searched with multiple bags of white substance inside, all later identified as cocaine.

Under the agreement, Chhabra will spend one-year in the First Offender Program. If he successfully meets all requirements of the program, the charge will be dismissed.