Defendant pleads guilty to 19 charges in New Kent after technology tracks him down

Enhancements in technology have benefited a number of people, assisting them in areas such as work, school, and recreation. For one Newport News man, it led to 19 guilty pleas in New Kent Circuit Court Monday afternoon.

Delmar Curtis Staton-Davies, 22, entered guilty pleas to 12 counts of credit card theft, three counts of grand larceny, three counts of misdemeanor tampering with a vehicle, and one count of credit card fraud as part of a plea agreement reached during court proceedings.

In a summary of evidence presented by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, in the early morning hours on Feb. 10 multiple cars were entered into at Patriot’s Landing in New Kent. Items removed from the vehicles included credit cards, laptop computers, computer accessories, tools, bags, and Rayban sunglasses.

But one item taken would lead authorities right to the defendant. An Ipad belonging to one of the victims was confiscated in the thefts. However, the victim had a phone application that allowed him to track his stolen device. The victim was able to see his device traveling to Newport News, alerting New Kent Sheriff’s Office of the location.

Working with Newport News police, New Kent detectives tracked the Ipad to a burgundy car later that evening. Authorities ran a license plate check on the vehicle, revealing that it had been stolen. Newport News officers initiated a traffic stop, pulling over the car with the defendant driving. Upon the stop, Staton-Davies fled by foot from the scene before being captured shortly afterwards. The defendant was searched, revealing that five credit cards and a wallet belonging to the victim were in his possession. A search of the stolen vehicle resulted in many of the confiscated items being recovered.

Testimony and investigative work by Detective Donald Mehalko revealed that the defendant had used the cards at two Newport News Walmart stores around 8 a.m. Surveillance video revealed the defendant entering and exiting the store within the corresponding time frame that the stolen credit cards were used to purchase items. One photo in particular revealed the burgundy car and a clear shot of the license plate used to identify the vehicle.

Under the plea agreement, Staton-Davies received a ten-year prison sentence with seven years suspended (three to serve) on one of the grand larceny charges. A total of 300 years was suspended on the remaining 18 charges and the defendant must pay $894 in restitution for items that weren’t recovered.

In an unrelated case, an inmate at Henrico Jail East will spend an additional year incarcerated after an assault on guards.

Donald Joseph Damore Jr., accepted a plea agreement to two amended charges of misdemeanor simple assault (originally assault and battery on a law enforcement officer). One charge of assault and battery on a law enforcement officer was dropped.

In a summary of evidence, on June 15 deputies were assisting medical staff to deliver medicine to inmates. As one of the pod doors opened, Damore bolted from pod in an attempt to make an escape. The defendant was able to wrestle away pepper spray from one of the deputies and spray another with it. Other deputies were able to restrain Damore on the stairwell before taking him back to the cell to contain him.

Under the plea deal, he received 12-month sentences on each of the two charges and will serve an active term of six months on each one.