Man impersonating police officer receives two years for possession of firearm

By Andre Jones | August 28, 2015 4:44 pm

Nicholas Laddie Otey

A Charles City man who impersonated a police officer will serve a minimum mandatory sentence of two years in jail after accepting a plea deal during Aug. 28 proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court.

Nicholas Laddie Otey, 37, of the 9400 block of Barnetts Road, entered a guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

In a summary of evidence provided by Charles City Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler, last Jan. 8 Otey entered a residence located at the 9400 block of Barnetts Road. Otey, who pretended to be a police officer, attempted to rob the occupants of the home at the time. The victim was able to identify Otey and a warrant issued to search the defendant’s home resulted in finding a magazine clip for a firearm. Otey admitted in court proceedings to the crime.

Otey received five years in jail with all but three years suspended (two to serve). The two years imposed is a mandatory sentence that must be served due to the defendant’s status as a convicted felon. Charges of attempted armed robbery, burglary with intent to commit armed robbery, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, misdemeanor impersonating a police officer, and misdemeanor reckless handling of a firearm were dropped in July 1 Charles City General District Court proceedings.

In an unrelated case, a Hopewell man entered a guilty plea to DUI (third offense).

Jason Richard Hall, 30, of the 10000 block of Ironwood Road, admitted guilt to the crime. On Apr. 17, a Charles City deputy noticed a vehicle parked in the middle of the intersection of Roxbury Road (Route 106) and Harrison Point Road. The deputy knocked on the window several times to awaken the driver and sensed an odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. Hall, the driver, was asked to perform a sobriety test. He was later arrested and taken into custody. A subsequent breathalyzer test revealed an alcohol level of .12, which is above the .08 legal limit.

Formal sentencing for Hall is scheduled for Nov. 10, but he will serve at least six months in jail as a minimum, mandatory sentence under state law.