Using sister’s ID lands woman one-year jail sentence

A Hampton woman who used her sister’s identification during a March 2014 traffic stop received formal sentencing during Mar. 7 proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

Laura Lee Carter, 33, of 17 Woodsman Road, entered a plea agreement on Oct. 19, entering Alford pleas of guilt to one count each of forgery of a public document, false identification (second offense), perjury, misdemeanor reckless driving, and misdemeanor driving suspended. At that trial a summary of evidence revealed that Carter used the name and social security number of her sister, Rosa Paige, during a traffic stop. An investigation followed after Paige went to New Kent Sheriff’s Office to inquire why she was ticketed. When the state trooper arrived, Paige showed a picture of Carter, who the trooper later identified as the person he stopped. A June 29 trial (later declared a mistrial) led to the perjury charge where Carter testified under oath that she had not been convicted of a crime in Hampton City Circuit Court.

As part of the plea agreement, Carter was evaluated for the Women’s Diversion Program. However, due to medication she was taking, she returned to circuit court as a fallback when she didn’t qualify for the program. The plea agreement contained a clause that the Commonwealth’s Attorney would recommend a sentence within the recommended sentencing guidelines (eight months to one year, nine months) for the defendant.

Carter received a 10-year jail sentence on the forgery charge with nine years suspended (one year to serve). Ten years on the perjury charge, five years on the false identification, and 90 days on the misdemeanor driving while suspended charge were all suspended. She must also pay a $250 fine on the driving suspended conviction and a $150 fine on the reckless driving charge.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–Chad Jerome Freeman, 30, of Virginia Beach, accepted a plea agreement and entered no contest pleas to an amended charge of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor (originally child endangerment) and misdemeanor reckless driving by speed. A misdemeanor charge of reckless driving to endanger life or limb was dropped.

In a summary of evidence, last Nov. 15, a New Kent deputy clocked Freeman’s vehicle at 89 miles per hour traveling westbound on Interstate 64. After the vehicle accelerated to 100 miles per hour for a short period of time, it pulled over. As the deputy inspected the vehicle, he detected the odor of alcohol. A subsequent sobriety test revealed Freeman was not intoxicated, but the deputy noticed a child in the back of the vehicle Freeman was operating. Freeman was arrested shortly afterwards.

Under the plea agreement, he received a total of 24 months in jail but will only serve 30 days of active time. He was also ordered to pay $1,000 in fines.

–Felipe Ramirez-Torres, 39, of New Kent, accepted a plea deal and entered Alford pleas of guilt to one count of breaking and entering and misdemeanor assault. The plea indicates that while Ramirez-Torres maintains his innocence, evidence presented would be enough to convict him of the crimes.

In a summary of evidence, last Nov. 13, the defendant and the victim, Mario Lopez, were co-workers at Allied Pallet on Mountcastle Road. Ramirez-Torres became upset when Lopez was awarded a job position and confronted the victim at his house that evening. Ramirez-Torres entered, threatening Lopez by showing him a gun before he eventually left the residence.

Under the plea deal, Ramirez-Torres received a 20-year sentence on the breaking and entering conviction with all time suspended. Twelve months on the assault charge were also suspended, but he has been ordered to stay away from Lopez and Allied Pallet. He was also placed on supervised probation for up to 20 years.