Judge upholds 14-year sentence recommended by jury in Henrico Jail East drug possession case

Judge B. Elliott Bondurant upheld the recommendation of a jury as a Henrico Jail East inmate will serve an additional 14 years in prison after June 12 proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

Bondurant sentenced Arain Wright, 50, to 10 years in prison with three suspended (seven to serve) on one count of delivering drugs to a prisoner. He also imposed the same sentence on a conspiracy charge to deliver drugs to a prisoner.

A jury trial last April stemmed around Wright’s involvement with distributing heroin on Oct. 4, 2014 while he was a prisoner in Henrico Jail East. After hearing evidence at that trial, a jury found the defendant guilty of both offenses, recommending seven year active terms on each one. According to assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Del Rossi, Wright had rejected a plea deal that would have resulted in him serving four years in prison.

In another case, a Quinton man was found guilty on one count each of felony failure to appear and a felony pretrial violation during a contested trial.

Kyle Robert Crews, 20, of the 1200 block of Quaker Road, was convicted on the charges after evidence was presented during the 15-minute trial.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory provided a letter from Colonial Correction pre-trial services that indicated the defendant did not show up for schedule appointments. Another document presented by the prosecution revealed that Crews also did not appear during Mar. 21 New Kent General District Court proceedings.

Crews testified, saying that he got his dates mixed up and turned himself in nine days later. He also presented paperwork that showed he enrolled in pretrial services on June 6.

After hearing evidence, Bondurant said that reports from the probation office along with testimony from the defendant was enough to convict him.

“In Mr. Crews own testimony he didn’t really look at the date. He just blew it off,” the judge said. “He also admitted that he didn’t turn himself in until after New Kent Sheriff’s Office told his grandmother that he had a warrant out for his arrest.”

Formal sentencing for Crews is scheduled for Aug. 14.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–Carlton Thomas Banks, 34, of the 6700 block of Poplar Woods Court, Quinton, entered a straight guilty plea to a lone count of possession of heroin.

In a summary of evidence, on Jan. 6, Deputy Cole Thomas was walking on a sidewalk after working security at a basketball game when he walked by a vehicle that had a strong odor of marijuana. The windows of that vehicle were rolled up and as the deputy walked by the vehicle, he noticed the registration had expired. Thomas located the vehicle on the road and executed a traffic stop. A search of the vehicle resulted in heroin being discovered in the center console and the defendant admitting it belonged to him.

A presentence report is being prepared with a formal finding being withheld. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 14.

–Cederick Wayne Brown, 28, of the 4700 block of Mountcastle Road, Providence Forge, entered an Alford guilty plea to one count of grand larceny as part of a plea deal. One charge each of conspiracy to commit grand larceny and intent to sell stolen property were dropped. An Alford plea indicates that while the defendant maintains his innocence, evidence presented by the prosecution would be enough to convict him.

In a summary of evidence, Brown resided in the home of Deborah Oakley. New Kent Sheriff’s Office began investigating in the area to search for missing jewelry and showed Oakley pictures of items sold at pawn shops. The victim admitted the items were hers and did not know they were missing.

The pawn ticket revealed a date of Apr. 20 and was signed by a woman. After meeting with authorities, the woman identified Brown and said that he persuaded her to pawn the jewelry to get money to purchase drugs.

Under the agreement, Brown received a 10-year jail term with nine years, nine months suspended (three months to serve). He must also pay restitution in the amount of $2,252.

–Courtney Marie Collier, 21, of the 9000 block of Basswood Drive, Quinton, had a charge of possession of a controlled substance (amphetamine) dismissed. Collier successfully complied with the requirements of the first offender program.

–James Everett Edwards III, 20, of the 6400 block of Mihalcoe Lane, Providence Forge accepted a plea agreement by entering a guilty plea to one count of possession of cocaine.

In a summary of evidence, on Mar. 12 Lt. Joey McLaughlin witnessed a vehicle weaving back and forth across the center line. After stopping the vehicle, he noticed a strong scent of marijuana and searched the car. The result yielded the discovery of cocaine and Edwards, who was a passenger in the vehicle, admitted that it belonged to him.

Under the agreement, no formal finding will be made as Edwards will be placed in the first offender program. However, he must complete at least 100 hours of community service.

–Frank Fleming III, 43, of the 10000 block of Wolfe Manor Court, Glen Allen, received formal sentencing after pleading guilty on Apr. 11 to a single count of possession of cocaine. During that trial, the defendant admitted that he threw a bag of cocaine out the window as he approached a road block on Route 60 in Providence Forge.

Under the agreement, Fleming received a 10-year jail sentence with all but two months suspended.