Petersburg felon receives mandatory sentence for firing AK-47 at Charles City shooting range

A Petersburg man will spend a mandatory two years in jail for possessing a firearm after he agreed to a plea deal during Aug. 18 proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court.

Rodman Gonzalez, 20, of the 1600 block of Valdas Drive, entered a guilty plea to a single count on an amended charge of possession of a weapon by a nonviolent felon (originally possession of a weapon by a violent felon).

In a summary of evidence by Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler, on Mar. 11, conservation officer Christopher Adams heard rapid gunfire shots coming from a shooting range in the county. When the officer arrived, he saw one man holding an AK-47 and two others accompanying him. When inquiring about the shooting, the man holding the weapon said he and the two others were taking turns firing it and did not know about the procedures. Adams conducted a background check on all three men, with Gonzalez being one of the men. Gonzalez, who is a convicted felon, told Adams that he fired the weapon as well, prompting his arrest on the charge.

Under the agreement, Gonzalez received a five-year jail sentence with three years suspended. The two-year active term is the mandatory minimum required to serve under the state statute.

In an unrelated case, a Mechanicsville man agreed to terms of a plea deal stemming from a Nov. 24, 2016 break-in.

Landry Bailey, 23, of the 8700 block of Elliott Drive, entered a guilty plea to one count of grand larceny. A lone charge of burglary was dropped as part of the plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, Bailey and a co-defendant entered into a camper and shed of a victim, stealing tools to sell for money to buy drugs. The victim’s neighbor said he saw the two and informed police. Bailey and the co-defendant were arrested and Bailey confessed to the offense.

No formal finding has been rendered against the defendant, but as part of the plea deal, Bailey must enroll in the Counseling Center for drug treatment as well as pay restitution for the stolen items. If he successfully completes those parts of the plea agreement, his grand larceny charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor petty larceny. Formal sentencing is scheduled for May 1, 2018.