Eluding police nets New Kent man 15-month jail term

A New Kent man will spend the next 15 months behind bars for felony eluding police after receiving formal sentencing during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

William Henry Winston Jr., 64, of the 6300 block of Emmaus Church Road, received a three-year sentence with all but one year, three months suspended for eluding an officer last January.

In a contested trial this past July, Charles City deputy James Clements said he observed Winston speeding north on Route 106 (Roxbury Road/Emmaus Church Road) in Charles City. After activating his lights, the defendant increased his speed as he crossed a bridge into New Kent before stopping at a red light at the intersection of Route 106 and Route 60 (Pocahontas Trail). When Clements attempted to get out of his vehicle to approach the vehicle, the defendant accelerated away, with the deputy testifying he was driving 91 miles per hour and barely catching the vehicle. Eventually, Winston pulled into what would later be identified as his driveway and was arrested.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–Ronald S. Altizer, 28, of the 11000 block of Carriage Road, Providence Forge, accepted a plea deal to one count of possession of cocaine. Altizer admitted that he possessed the substance illegally on March 21. Under the agreement, he received a five-year jail sentence with all time suspended.

–Howard Grant Mitchell Jr., 57, of 12 W. Lewis Road, Hampton, accepted a plea agreement and admitted guilt to one count of driving as a habitual offender and misdemeanor reckless driving. In a summary of evidence, a Virginia State Trooper received a be-on-the-lookout alert for a vehicle that was driving erratically on Interstate 64. The trooper spotted the vehicle and clocked it driving close to 90 miles per hour. After a traffic stop, a background check revealed Mitchell had been declared a habitual offender from previous offenses.

Under the plea agreement, he received five years in jail with an active term of one year to serve on the habitual offender conviction. He will also serve an additional 60 days in jail on the reckless driving charge and pay a $500 fine.

–Gregory Taylor Norwood, 32, of the 3000 block of Brook Forest Road, Midlothian, accepted terms of a plea agreement and pled guilty to one count of possession of oxycodone. Norwood admitted to possessing the substance on Dec. 15, 2014. Under the agreement, he received a five-year jail sentence with all but 10 days suspended.