Convicted Henrico man asks judge, court for new trial
A convicted man motioned for a new trial prior to formal sentencing during Oct. 18 proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court.
Joquan W. Hawkins, 21, of 2 West Jerald Street, Henrico, made the request to Judge Thomas B. Hoover in a letter addressed to the court and Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler the day before sentencing had been scheduled. According to the letter, Hawkins claims that Tyler and his defense lawyer, Mufeed Said, collaborated in a way to render guilty verdicts from a two-day jury trial in August. The jury recommended 39 years in prison on seven felony charges that included malicious wounding, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and use of a firearm to commit a felony.
Said, who was in attendance, said he did not receive any notification of the letter until Tyler provided it to him the day prior (Oct. 17) to Hawkins scheduled hearing. Said commented that after he briefly reviewed the letter, he believed that the accusations were falsified and if presented before the State Bar, there would be no basis that he performed his actions unethically.
Hoover granted the defendant’s request for a new lawyer, removing Said from the case. Hoover, however, continued the motion for a new trial until a new lawyer is appointed to the case.
In an unrelated case, a Charles City man who stole copper will now serve two and a half years in jail.
Dallas Leno Wallace Jr., 45, of 7840 Lewis Tyler Lane, accepted a plea deal in May on one count each of grand larceny and attempting to sell stolen property.
During mitigation stages of sentencing, Wallace testified that he had a rough childhood and that his actions were a setback and a “stupid mistake.” Hoover, however, fired back at Wallace, bringing up past interactions with the defendant.
“I understand where you are coming from with your experiences as a child, but I remember when you first walked in this courtroom in front of me 10 years ago on a case where you threw gasoline on a man and attempted to ignite him with a cigarette lighter,” the judge said. “I don’t understand how you can turn around and do a thing like that to a person when you had those types of experiences as a child.
“I’ve seen you time and time again and over those years, each time you appear before me it’s a new crime and a new offense,” concluded Hoover, pointed to the defendant’s criminal history that included drug, grand larceny, attempted malicious wounding, and multiple probation violations.
Wallace received 20 years in jail with all but one year, six months suspended on the grand larceny charge. Ten years on the intent to sell stolen property were suspended. He will also serve one year in jail for violating probation.
In other Charles City court proceedings:
–Cornelius James Carey Jr., 57, of 106 Powhatan Drive, Williamsburg, accepted a plea deal to an amended charge of misdemeanor construction fraud. While pleading no contest, evidence stipulated that on Feb. 6, 2012, Carey received a payment from Louise Smith to do renovations on her houe. Under the agreement, 12 months in jail were all suspended due to the defendant repaying restitution of $500 to the victim.
–David Scott Yates Jr., 22, of 4503 Rocking Horse Lane, Charles City, accepted a plea deal to one count of grand larceny. A possession of burglary tools and misdemeanors of destruction of property and petty larceny were dropped. Yates admitted that on Jan. 6, he stole copper from a Dominion Virginia Power substation on Chambers Road. Formal sentencing for Yates is scheduled for Nov. 22.