Williamsburg man to serve no active time after plea deal in New Kent

A Williamsburg man will serve no active time in jail after accepting a plea agreement in New Kent Circuit Court.

Austin Curtis Peterson, 21, of the 3900 block of Penzance Place, entered guilty pleas to two counts each of misdemeanor tampering with a vehicle and misdemeanor petty larceny. Seven counts of credit card larency, six counts of tampering with a vehicle, three counts of grand larceny, and one count of misdemeanor petty larceny were dropped.

In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, on Aug. 30, 2014, approximately 12 unlocked vehicles in the Brickshire subdivision of New Kent were entered. Items such as cash, computers, electronics, and credit cards were stolen. Gregory said James City County police had similar incidents and received a tip from a fisherman who saw items tossed from a vehicle during one of the excursions. The fisherman retrieved some of some of the items and through cooperation James City police provided information to New Kent Sheriff’s Office. Peterson was interviewed by James City police and admitted that he and two other co-defendants, Aaron Scott Lee and Terrance Terrell White, were involved in thefts in that jurisdiction as well as New Kent. Peterson cooperated with New Kent authorities in cases against Lee and White, who both entered guilty pleas as part of plea deals in April.

Under the agreement, Peterson received 12 months in jail with all time suspended on each of the four charges. He must pay with the other co-defendants in joint restitution for items taken in the total amount of $3,219.