Virginia Beach man receives 90 days in jail for high speed chase in New Kent
A Virginia Beach man who led a high-speed chase in New Kent County entered guilty pleas to the crimes during Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.
Jeremiah Neil Costa, 23, of the 3300 block of Scarborough Way, entered guilty pleas to one count each of felony eluding of police and felony destruction of property as part of a plea agreement. Four additional counts of felony destruction of property were dropped as part of the deal.
In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on Aug. 30, 2024, officers attempted to execute a traffic stop on a vehicle that was speeding and weaving in and out of traffic on westbound Interstate 64 near the Providence Forge exit. The driver of the vehicle did not yield to lights and sirens, with a chase ensuing shortly afterwards. The driver led officers on an eight-mile chase, striking and damaging a police car in the process. Eventually, the chase came to an end at the 205 mile-marker with the driver, identified as Costa, being arrested for the offense.
Under the plea agreement, Costa received a five-year sentence with four years, nine months suspended (three months to serve) on the felony eluding conviction. All five years on the felony destruction of property were suspended, but he must pay $1,302.42 for damages to the police officer’s vehicle.
In other circuit court matters:
–Daniel Ray Robinson, 39, of the 8800 block of Newton Road, St. Stephens Church, received a formal sentence on a single count of possession of a Schedule I/II drug.
During an Aug. 12, 2024 trial, Robinson admitted that on May 31, 2023 he had drugs in a vehicle after being pulled over during a traffic stop. The defendant was driving revoked at the time of the offense, and a subsequent search of the vehicle yielded the discovery of cocaine.
Robinson received a five-year sentence, with four years, nine months suspended (three months to serve).
–Ivan Dickson Rutter, 33, of the 7200 block of Olivet Church Road, Quinton, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of misdemeanor unauthorized use of a vehicle (originally grand larceny) as part of a plea agreement.
In a summary of evidence, on Sept. 19, 2024, New Kent Sheriff’s Office received a call from Phillip Schultz Jr. and Francesca Mendoza regarding a vehicle that they had not been returned to them. The duo explained that they made an agreement with Rutter in May 2024 that if he repaired the vehicle, the couple would sell it to him for $1,000. The victims indicated they had not heard from Rutter or seen their vehicle since that day, leading to an investigation. Rutter and the vehicle was located through an investigation and also through a discovery that he had driven through tolls without paying.
Under the agreement, Rutter received a 12-month sentence with all time suspended. He paid $1,000 in restitution for the vehicle, and must also pay a $500 fine and the amount of money incurred from unpaid tolls.