Hanover man enters guilty pleas to sex crimes in New Kent
Darwin K. Noble
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A Hanover man accused of sexual crimes will serve prison time after accepting a plea deal during a Tuesday afternoon New Kent Circuit Court session.
Darwin K. Noble, 73, of the 8100 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville, entered guilty pleas to two counts of aggravated sexual battery with a minor. One charge of forcible sodomy was dropped as part of the agreement.
In a summary of evidence, last fall, the victim’s parents noticed an erratic change in behavior of their 11-year-old son. Concerned, they contacted the Hanover police department in the county where the family is from. Upon an investigation and conversation with the victim, it was determined that Noble had molested the child.
The boy told authorities that during a June 6-7 camping trip that occurred in New Kent, he and a friend of his were sleeping in a tent. On the first night, Noble went into the tent of the victim and groped the boy’s penis. The following night, Noble once again went into the sleeping quarters, holding down the victim and performing oral sex on him.
Hanover authorities arranged a call between Noble and the victim, with the boy asking about the incident. According to the summary of evidence, Noble responded by indicating that he didn’t remember doing it, but he knows that the boy doesn’t lie so he might have done it.
Noble spoke about his actions on those nights, offering apologies to the victim.
“I’m sorry that it happened,” he said. “It was a very bad sin that I did. I hope they [the family] can find ways to forgive me, but if they don’t, I understand.”
When reading over the plea agreement and sentencing guidelines, Judge B. Elliott Bondurant was reluctant to accept the terms.
“This man should be locked away for more years than this for the crime he committed,” the judge said. “But because the family agreed to it and the 10-year old did not want to testify, I will accept the terms.”
On the first charge of aggravated sexual battery, Noble received a 20-year jail sentence, but will serve an active term of five years and one month. All 20 years on the second aggravated sexual battery charge were suspended.
Noble, however, is expected to serve more time. He faces two counts each of forcible sodomy and aggravated sexual battery in Hanover County involving the same youth.
“He has already confessed to those offenses,” said prosecutor Clay Blanton. “He’s looking at a substantial amount of time from them.”
Noble is scheduled to appear in Hanover Circuit Court on July 27.