Three men accept plea deals at New Kent Circuit Court proceedings

Three men accepted terms of plea agreements in unrelated cases during May 2 proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

Anthony John Gadzalski, 28, of the 2300 block of Paramont Avenue, Chesapeake, accepted a deal and entered guilty pleas to one count each of DUI (third offense), possession of a controlled substance (Adderal), and misdemeanor reckless driving. One charge of felony driving revoked was dropped.

In a summary of evidence, a state trooper pulled over Gadzalski’s vehicle on Interstate 64 last Dec. 10 for excessive speed. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer detected the odor of alcohol emanating from the defendant’s vehicle. Gadzalski admitted he was suspended and was taken into custody. A search of his vehicle revealed 351 Adderal pills in three bottles, triggering the possession charge.

Under the agreement, a presentence report is being prepared for the defendant. Formal sentencing is scheduled for July 11, but sentencing guidelines recommend time to serve incarcerated ranging from one day to three months.

Edgar Ortiz-Santiago, 21, of the 9400 block of Talleysville Road, New Kent, accepted an agreement to one count of malicious wounding.

In a summary of evidence, on Jan. 9, 2015, the defendant was at a family member’s home for a get-together. During the gathering, an argument ensued between Ortiz-Santiago and a family member. The argument turned physical, with the defendant stabbing the victim with a small knife, followed by hitting him on the head with a beer bottle, and concluding with a second stabbing with a box-cutter knife into the victim’s thigh.

Under the plea agreement, Ortiz-Santiago received a 20-year sentence with all but two years suspended. According to Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, the defendant could be deported.

Maurice Thomas Lewis, 25, of the 6300 block of Hickory Road, Quinton, entered guilty pleas to one count each of burglary and grand larceny as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on Aug. 30, 2015, Lewis broke through a glass window on the backside of the home belonging to Lynn Stanton. Once inside, he stole a 42-inch Insignia television before leaving the premises. Detectives recovered blood stains as well as a fingerprint from the broken glass and were able to trace the evidence back to the defendant through a database.

Under the agreement, Lewis received a 20-year jail sentence on the burglary charge with 18 years suspended (two years to serve). All 20 years on the grand larceny charge were suspended. However, he must serve an additional year as part of a probation violation and pay restitution in the amount of $550.