Technology tattles on defendant as plea deal reached in NK court

In science fiction movies, a depiction of betrayal by technology usually leads to the downfall of mankind. For one defendant in New Kent Circuit Court, he wished that display only stayed in films.

Jon Matthew Willis, 23, of the 6300 block of Hickory Road, Quinton, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and misdemeanor possession of marijuana as part of Sept. 18 court proceedings.

In a summary of evidence, on Mar. 13 New Kent deputies stopped a vehicle that was a target of a drug operation. Once stopped, the driver, identified as James Everett Edwards III, and the confidential informant stepped out the car, with Edwards arrested for possession of cocaine. The informant told authorities that he had purchased the substance at Willis’ home.

After obtaining a warrant, deputies went to Willis’ residence and searched his home. Upon questioning the defendant, the Siri app on his iPhone recognized his voice, triggering the response “I cannot find that contact in your phone Jon.” With police overhearing that response, the warrant allowed them to check his personal property, including his phone. The search resulted in finding a conversation between the defendant and Edwards in which Edwards asked for half-a-gram and one-and-a-half grams [of cocaine]. Other evidence recovered at Willis’ home included a scale, small baggies filled with a white powdery substance, and bags of plastic filled with similar substance in the toilet where the defendant admitted he tried to flush them.

Under the agreement, the defendant will be sentenced to a time frame between the recommended guidelines of seven months, seven days to one year, four months. Formal sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 13.

In other circuit court cases:

–Steven Hank Breyaert, 28, of the 3900 block of Grovewood Way, Apt. G, Williamsburg, entered into a plea of guilty to an amended charge of misdemeanor assault and battery (originally malicious wounding) as part of an agreement. A lone charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle was dropped.

In a summary of evidence, on Dec. 18, 2016, a deputy responded to a residence in New Kent where a person was struck with a vehicle. Information revealed state the defendant had just broke up with his girlfriend and attempted to overdose on pills the night before. The defendant returned to a relative’s home the following day, where an argument ensued. Breyaert took a vehicle belonging to the relative and when he was told to stop, hit the relative with a vehicle and attempted to speed off. He later returned to the residence and was arrested by authorities afterwards.

Under the plea agreement, Breyaert received a 12-month jail sentence with all but six months suspended (six months to serve.)

–Annette Marie Truelove, 50, of the 13000 block of The Glebe Lane, Charles City, accepted a plea deal, entering guilty pleas to amended charges of DUI (third offense-originally charged with DUI after receiving a felony conviction), misdemeanor unauthorized use of a vehicle (originally felony unauthorized use of a vehicle), and misdemeanor driving suspended.

In a summary of evidence, shortly after 3 a.m. on Mar. 2, a state trooper was responding to a crash on Pocahontas Trail (Route 60) near Route 618 (S. Adkins Road). Upon arriving, the trooper made contact with the defendant and detected a heavy odor of alcohol. The defendant, identified as Truelove, told the officer that the crash happened 30 minutes earlier and that someone else was driving the vehicle. After an investigation, Truelove was placed into custody on the charges.

Under the agreement, she received a three-year sentence with all but six months suspended on the DUI (third offense) conviction. All 12 months were suspended on both misdemeanor convictions.