Man who left juvenile at New Kent rest area receives three-month jail term

A South Dakota man will spend three months in jail for contributing to the delinquency of a minor while in New Kent County.

Michael Eugene Brown II, 27, of the 400 block of Sixth Avenue, Wall, entered an Alford Plea of Guilt to an amended charge of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor (originally felony child abuse) as part of Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. An Alford Plea of Guilt indicates that while the defendant maintains his innocence, evidence presented in the case would be enough to convict him of the offense.

In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on July 1, 2024, Brown was at the rest area on Interstate 64 in New Kent with another woman and a 17-year-old juvenile, who was not from Virginia. Brown and the juvenile got into an argument, resulting in the defendant leaving the juvenile at the rest stop. Police eventually responded to the situation and picked up the juvenile and later located Brown.

Brown received a 12-month sentence with nine months suspended (three months to serve). He must also pay a fine of $500.