Maidens man gets year in jail for driving while intoxicated in New Kent

A Maidens man will spend a year in jail for driving while intoxicated in New Kent County.

Christopher Tyrone Carroll, 56, of the 2500 block of Fairground Road, entered guilty pleas to an amended charge of misdemeanor DWI-second offense (originally DWI-third offense), misdemeanor driving revoked (DWI related), misdemeanor driving suspended, and misdemeanor driving without an ignition interlock as part of Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Three misdemeanor pretrial violations and one felony failure to appear were dismissed.

In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on Nov. 5, 2025, a New Kent deputy noticed a vehicle parked at Fasmart in Bottoms Bridge with the driver inside asleep. The deputy knocked on the window a few times, eventually waking the driver up. The driver, identified as Carroll, had an odor of alcohol detected upon him. Carroll provided the officer with his information. A background search revealed the defendant had warrants, leading to Carroll’s arrest. He admitted that he did not have a license. A breathalyzer test revealed that he had an alcohol level of .07. While that amount is under the legal limit, he was forbidden to drive due to previous arrests under the same conditions.

Under the agreement, Carroll received a 12-month sentence on the DWI (second offense) conviction, with 20 of those days being mandatory to serve under state statute. He also received a 12-month sentence with all but 10 day suspended on the misdemeanor DWI driving revoked (DWI related), with that time being required by law. All 12 months on the driving suspended and driving without an ignition interlock system were suspended. He must also pay $2,500 in fines.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–Sherwood Jerome Banks Jr., 37, of the 7900 block of Plum Point Road, West Point, entered a straight guilty plea to a single count of possession of a Schedule I/II drug.

In a summary of evidence, on Jan. 11, a New Kent deputy was patrolling radar on Farmer’s Drive when a vehicle entered their radar traveling 61 miles per hour in a 45 miles per hour posted zone. The officer conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Banks. The officer ran information on Banks, discovering that he had active warrants. Banks was placed under arrest and a search of his vehicle by a K-9 unit discovered two folded up pieces of paper with a brown, powdery substance inside of them. The substance was sent to a forensics lab, with results returning as being positive for fentanyl.

A presentence report is being prepared for Banks, with guidelines recommending a minimum of one year to serve. Formal sentencing for the defendant is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 16.

–Anthony Orlando Donner, 63, of the 2100 block of Hull Street, Richmond, entered a guilty plea to one charge of possession of a Schedule I/II substance as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on Feb. 19, a New Kent deputy patrolling Emmaus Church Road noticed a vehicle without a front license plate tag. The officer pulled behind the vehicle and ran the back tag, with results coming back that the license plate did not belong to the vehicle it was registered to. The officer removed the individuals from the vehicle, including Donner, who was sitting in the rear passenger seat. The officer noticed a glass tube with residue where Donner was sitting. A folded-up lottery ticket with a white substance was also discovered in the area where the defendant was sitting. The items were sent to the forensics lab, with results yielding that the substance was heroin.

Under the plea agreement, Donner received a five-year sentence with four years, 10 months suspended (two months to serve). He must also pay a fine of $1,500.

–Jonathan Lee Forrester, 49, of the 6600 block of Putney Mill Road, New Kent, entered a guilty to a single count of possession of a Schedule I/II substance.

In a summary of evidence, on Jan. 7, a New Kent deputy on patrol executed a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding in Eltham. The driver of the vehicle told the officer that they did not have a license or identification on them. The officer was able to identify Forrester as the driver and removed him from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted, discovery a bag with a substance in it. A second bag was later discovered as well with a substance. Those items were sent to a forensics lab, with tests revealing the substance to be cocaine.

Under the agreement, Forrester received a five-year sentence with four years, seven months suspended (five months to serve). He must also pay a fine of $1,500.

–Waylan Barnard O’Bier Jr., 48, of the 10000 block of Old Towne Lane, New Kent, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of misdemeanor assault and battery (originally suffocation) as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on Jan. 1, a New Kent deputy responded to a residence after a victim had said they had gotten into a physical altercation with O’Bier. The victim said that O’Bier had wrestled him to the ground and choked him during a New Year’s Eve gathering. When asked about the incident, O’Bier admitted that he did wrestle with the victim but denied choking him.

Under the agreement, a withhold finding has been issued as the defendant will undergo therapy for anger management. If he successfully completes those things, the charge will be dismissed.

–Alexander Julian Verner, 37, of Abilene, Texas, entered guilty pleas to an amended charge of misdemeanor destruction of property (originally felony destruction of property), an amended charge of misdemeanor assault (originally assault and battery of a law enforcement officer), misdemeanor disorderly conduct, and misdemeanor indecent exposure as part of a plea agreement. An additional charge of misdemeanor obstruction of justice was dropped as part of the plea deal.

In a summary of evidence, on June 21, 2022, a New Kent deputy patrolling around the area of the Washington-Burgess Inn was waved down by a citizen. The citizen informed the deputy that a man was committing lewd acts in the area. When the officer arrived, they noticed a naked man, later identified as Verner, destroying lamps and other property of the building. The officer was able to eventually arrest Verner, and upon attempting to put the defendant in the vehicle, Verner attempted to bite the officer, resulting in the officer receiving a scratch from the injury. It was determined through a later evaluation that Verner was experiencing a mental episode.

Under the agreement, Verner received a 12-month sentence with nine months suspended (three months to serve) on the misdemeanor assault and battery conviction. He also received a 12-month sentence with all but one month suspended for the destruction of property conviction. All 12 months on both the misdemeanor disorderly conduct and misdemeanor indecent exposure were suspended. He must also pay $1,500 in fines.