Former Quinton Fire and EMS treasurer accepts reduced embezzlement charges

A former Quinton Volunteer Fire and EMS Inc. (Company 2) treasurer accepted a plea deal to reduced embezzlement charges during Aug. 11 New Kent Circuit Court proceedings.

Lucinda Marciniak Crump, 48, of the 9000 block of Essex Hills Road, New Kent, entered guilty pleas to three counts of misdemeanor embezzlement. Those charges were originally felony embezzlement indictments.

In a summary of evidence, Crump volunteered for Quinton Fire and EMS for the last seven years, serving the last three as the company’s treasurer. At the beginning of this year, she was elected as president of the organization.

Transitioning into her new position, another volunteer filled Crump’s treasurer role. While looking at finances, the new treasurer noticed an odd occurrence of missing monies and asked for an audit. The audit confirmed the new treasurer’s suspicions, locating checks written and signed by Crump for items and services not approved or rendered by the department. An investigation followed, resulting in checks dating back to late 2012 indicating Crump’s actions happened on multiple occasions. Crump was arrested upon completion of the investigation.

Under the plea agreement, she will serve two out of a possible 12 months on the first embezzlement charge. Twelve months on each of the two remaining charges were suspended, and restitution of $2,000 to Quinton Fire and EMS has already been paid in full.

In an unrelated case, a woman with a history of drug-related problems accepted a plea deal in the first of two trials in court.

Samantha Nicole Rigdon, 21, of the 9000 block of Shewsbury Drive, New Kent, entered guilty pleas to three counts of grand larceny, one count of possession of a controlled substance (Schedule I or II), and a reduced charge of misdemeanor unlawful entry (amended from burglary).

Last March and April, Rigdon worked at a Providence Forge restaurant and resided with Natalie Battilana, one of the owners of the restaurant. Battalina discovered that some of her jewelry was missing. Acting on suspicion, she called New Kent deputies to the restaurant to confront Rigdon, who bolted into nearby woods to avoid questioning about the stolen property. A search of Rigdon’s vehicle revealed the stolen items, and she was arrested. Additional investigation work revealed the defendant also stole items from Ashley Flescher and Jeena Trimmer and sold them to pawn shops in New Kent and Henrico.

Under the plea agreement, Rigdon’s formal sentencing will be on Sept. 8, as she has additional drug possession charges pending from the search of her vehicle. Early indications reveal she will serve at least six months in jail, with the possibility of serving an additional year in the detention and diversion programs.

In other circuit court matters:

–Neshika M. Mitchell, 33, of the 100 block of Bassett Avenue, Virginia Beach, received an active sentence of seven months in jail after an earlier conviction on one charge each of forgery of a public document, forgery, and misdemeanor identification theft. During a traffic stop in Oct. 2010, Mitchell forged the name of another person on a summons. She will also spend an additional 10 days in jail as a result of a mandatory sentence for driving revoked.

–Joseph Karl Fredericks, 49, of the 7900 block of Point Lookout Road, West Point, accepted a plea deal to one count of misdemeanor resisting arrest. The charge was reduced from assault and battery on a police officer. In a summary of evidence, during a vehicle checkpoint on May 22, Fredericks became uncooperative and would not provide his license to officers. When Fredericks attempted to flee, officers stopped him and extracted him from the vehicle. Under the agreement, he received a 12-month sentence, with six months suspended.

–Victor George Whitesides, 21, of the 7000 block of Chesnut Drive, New Kent, entered a straight guilty plea to driving under the influence (third offense), and misdemeanor driving revoked. After a state trooper responded to an accident on Sassafras Road in Quinton, she detected the faint odor of alcohol on the defendant. A subsequent sobriety test followed by receiving a blood sample revealed the defendant’s blood alcohol content level to read .03, slightly above the no-tolerance level. Whitesides admitted he had been drinking and also took prescription medication a couple hours before the accident. While formal sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 20, the defendant will face a minimum of six months in jail under state law.