Criminal history leads to longer sentence for Windsor man in NK Circuit Court

A Windsor man who entered an Alford plea of guilty during a December trial as part of a plea agreement will spend more time incarcerated than anticipated after a review of his criminal background.

Eric Wayne Gillard, 45, of the 23000 block of Andrew Court, will serve two years in jail on one count of grand larceny after receiving formal sentencing during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

In December, Gillard stipulated that evidence presented by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory could link him to a burglary last May 26. During that trial, a New Kent deputy testified about noticing two trucks at Carrier Transport around 1 a.m. and both vehicles had tires in the bed. Gillard was one of two suspects later taken into custody.

Gillard entered his Alford plea, stipulating he maintained his innocence despite enough evidence to convict him. As part of the plea agreement, he agreed to cooperate with authorities on other crimes in return for Gregory recommending a lighter sentence during the March 16 trial.

Gregory’s recommendation came in the form of one year to serve, saying that while Gillard qualified for the state’s diversion and detention programs, a probation officer had advised those programs would not benefit the defendant. But as sentencing proceeded, Judge Thomas B. Hoover read over the defendant’s criminal history.

“This is the definition of a career criminal,” said the judge, flipping through pages listing the defendant’s past crimes. “He doesn’t have three convictions; he has three pages of convictions.

“Most of his crimes are the same as this one where he stole items,” continued the judge. “He has convictions beginning in 1988 and his first ones were federal convictions.”

Hoover sentenced Gillard to five years in prison, with all but two years suspended. Two years for possession of burglary tools were all suspended.

In an unrelated case, a man who stashed personal identification with marijuana will serve three months in jail.

Carroll William Lee Brown, 30, received formal sentencing after being convicted during a Dec. 8 contested trial. Last Sept. 21, Deputy Wyatt Johnston responded to a domestic dispute in the Woodhaven Shores area. After Brown was removed from the home, Johnston searched the residence and noticed a green residue. Eventually, the deputy found a plastic bag with money, the defendant’s identification, and a plant-like substance stuffed into a non-functioning light fixture.

Brown received a 10-year prison sentence, with nine years, nine months suspended.

In one final matter, David Randolph Lambert, 56, of the 800 block of Winona Avenue SW, Roanoke, will serve one year in jail after failing to pay his fines and obtain his driver’s license as part of a plea agreement. During a Dec. 8 trial, he entered a guilty plea to driving as a habitual offender.

Lambert testified at sentencing that he was still in the process of obtaining the license. But after Hoover questioned Lambert’s alcohol use, Lambert admitted to having “between a six- and a 12-pack” of beer during Super Bowl weekend.

Hoover scolded the defendant, saying his actions could endanger others if he was released to regain his license. Hoover denied continuance for the defendant’s sentencing and imposed a five-year prison sentence with four years suspended.