Urge to steal from New Kent store results in drug convictions for duo

A woman’s urge to steal items from a store resulted in her and a companion being arrested and pleading guilty to drug possession charges.

Shayna Elizabeth Hudgins, 30, of the 400 block of Partridge Landing Road, Shacklefords, and Brandon Keith Davis, 34, of the 2000 block of Tillage Lane, Gloucester, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of a Schedule I/II drug as part of plea agreements reached during Monday morning cases in New Kent Circuit Court. Hudgins also entered guilty pleas to one count each to an amended charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor (originally felony child abuse) and misdemeanor petty larceny.

In a summary provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on Dec. 18, 2024, a New Kent deputy patrolling near the Pilot Travel Center on Emmaus Church Road (Route 106) was flagged down one of the store’s managers. The manager approached the officer and advised them that they believe an individual was stealing items from the store. The officer noticed a woman, alter identified as Hudgins, place items in her pocket and proceeded to wait outside the store for her.

When Hudgins returned to her vehicle at the gas pump, the officer approached her to ask about the items in question. Meanwhile, the officer spotted needles on the floorboard of the passenger’s side, where Davis was sitting. The deputy questioned the duo about the items and Davis admitted that he had just injected “ice”. A search of the vehicle was conducted, with items that were taken from the store being located inside, as well as bag with a powdery substance inside of it. The items were submitted to the forensics lab and later identified as methamphetamine. The duo were arrested on the drug charges, with Hudgins also receiving another one for having a minor in the backseat of the vehicle at the time of the arrest.

Under the agreement, Hudgins received a 10-year sentence with all time suspended on the possession of a Schedule I/II drug conviction. All 12 months on both the contributing to the delinquency of a minor and misdemeanor petty larceny charges were suspended as well. She must pay $1,500 in fines and $186.06 in restitution to the store. Davis was placed in the First Offender program and if he successfully completes all requirements over the next year, the charge will be dismissed.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–John Joseph Bentes, 54, of the 3400 block of Summit Loop, Williamsburg, entered a no contest plea to a single count of assault and battery as part of a plea deal. One charge of strangulation was dropped as part of the agreement. A no contest plea indicates that evidence presented in the trial would be enough to convict the defendant of the offense.

In a summary of evidence, on Jan. 19, a New Kent deputy responded to a call for service after Bentes and the victim got into an argument. During that interaction, Bentes grabbed the victim by the neck and also injured their right hand. After an investigation, the defendant was taken into custody.

Under the agreement, no formal finding was rendered as Bentes will enter into rehabilitation programs for anger management and mental evaluation. If he successfully completes the one-year program, the charges will be dismissed.

–Robert Lawrence Byers Jr., 26, of the 6700 block of Sassafras Drive, New Kent, received formal sentencing on one charge each of felony eluding and misdemeanor providing a false identification to a police officer. During a June 23 trial, Byers admitted that on Feb. 10, he eluded a New Kent deputy after receiving signals to pull over. The defendant traveled at excessive speeds, including 70 miles per hour in a posted 25 miles per hour zone. Byers was later located after an individual noticed him switching license plates on his vehicle. When the officer later asked for his license, the defendant provided a false name.

Byers received a five-year sentence with three years, seven months suspended (one year, five months to serve) on the felony eluding conviction. He was fined $250 for providing false information to the police officer.

–Dominique Jerome Cooper, 36, of the 1400 block of Wilmington Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, pled guilty to a single count of unauthorized use of a vehicle as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on May 2, a New Kent deputy operating a license plate reader received on a vehicle that had been stolen out of North Carolina belonging to Stacy Bradley. A traffic stop was carried out where the driver, identified as Cooper, admitted that he did not have permission to use the car.

Under the agreement, Cooper received a five-year sentence with four years, nine months suspended (three months to serve). He must also pay $250 in restitution, the amount needed to tow the vehicle back to North Carolina.

–Warren Emanuel Fleming, 41, of Richmond, received formal sentencing on a single count of possession of ammunition by a nonviolent felon. During a June 23 trial, Fleming admitted that on Nov. 21, 2024 during a traffic stop that ammunition on the back floorboard of a vehicle that he was driving belonged to him. The defendant told the officer that he knew he could not have it due to him being a convicted felon.

Fleming received a five-year sentence with three years, six months suspended (one year, six months to serve).

–Terry Lee Higgs, 59, of Richmond, entered a guilty plea to a single count of possession of a Schedule I/II drug as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, a New Kent deputy responded to a call for service about a possible overdose. When the officer arrived to the scene, they noticed the driver of a vehicle had overdosed and addressed that situation. After medical staff had arrived, the deputy approached the passenger, identified as Higgs, and questioned them about possible drugs in the vehicle. A search of the car was conducted, with a clear straw and powder residue in the area where the defendant admitted he was sitting. Higgs admitted to the officer that they had bought methadone, with that substance being confirmed as the residue after being sent to the forensics lab.

Under the plea agreement, Higgs received a 10-year sentence with all but six months suspended. He must also pay a fine of $1,000.

–Javonne Damon Jordan, 28, of the 20 block of M Street NE, Washington D.C. entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of a stolen vehicle, felony eluding, felony hit and run, felony child abuse, and misdemeanor reckless driving as part of a plea agreement. One charge of being a fugitive of the law was dropped as part of the deal.

In a summary of evidence, on Mar. 8 a Virginia State Police trooper clocked a black Dodge Charger traveling eastbound on Interstate 64 traveling at an excessive speed. When the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle accelerated, weaving in and out of traffic and driving on the shoulder of the road. The vehicle got off on Exit 227 and began traveling westbound back into New Kent County via Route 30 with speeds reaching 100 miles per hour. The Dodge Charger returned to the interstate, reaching speeds up to 140 miles per hour. The Charger struck another vehicle at mile marker 213 before it crashed into the trees. As officers approached, the driver, later identified as Jordan, removed a child from the vehicle, using them as a shield. The officers de-escalated the situation and the defendant was taken into custody.

Under the agreement, a presentence report is being prepared with sentencing guidelines recommending a range from nine months to two years, eight months to serve. The defendant will pay $6,000 in fines and $1,302.42 as part of restitution. Formal sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 27.

–Forrest Dillion Tucker, 30, of the 2800 block of New Kent Highway, received form sentencing for possession of a Schedule I/II substance and two misdemeanor violations of pretrial services.

During a Mar. 18, 2024 trial, Tucker entered a guilty plea to possession of a Schedule I/II drug stemming from a Jan. 2, 2024, where he admitted to possessing methamphetamine. The defendant was placed into the First Offender Program, which provided him an opportunity to have the charge dismissed. However, Tucker picked up a charge of stalking and violating a protective order, resulting in him being dismissed from the program for violating the terms of good behavior. He also failed a drug test as well. Both of the latter offenses resulted in pretrial violations.

Tucker received a five-year sentence with all time suspended for the possession of a Schedule I/II drug conviction. Two years on the first pretrial violation conviction and three years on the second pretrial violation were all suspended. Tucker is currently serving a one-year jail term for stalking.