Two crimes in four days puts Mechanicsville man in jail for six months

A Mechanicsville man who committed two separate crimes over a four-day span will spend the next six months in jail after accepting a plea deal during Oct. 23 proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

Landry Bailey, 23, of the 8700 block of Elliott Drive, entered guilty pleas to one count each of grand larceny and possession of a controlled substance (heroin).

In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, on June 2 New Kent Deputy Joey McLaughlin pulled over a vehicle in the Quinton area after noticing it crossing over a solid line several times while driving it. The driver, identified by Bailey, did not have a license and provided the officer with his information. McLaughlin’s search on the defendant’s record revealed Bailey had a warrant out of Charles City. Bailey and his passenger were removed from the vehicle and a search revealed a syringe, a silver spoon, and a white residue later identified as heroin. Bailey was arrested at that time.

On June 5, two New Kent deputies responded to the Pilot Travel Center on Route 106 (Emmaus Church Road) in response to a call. Romero Salvador and Dalio Solozana had made arrangements to purchase an iPhone 6 from a seller they met on a social media platform. Both parties met, with Salvador paying $240 for the item. According to the summary of evidence, the seller, later identified as Bailey who apparently was out on bond, took the money and fled. Opening the box revealed a Motorola Slide with a cracked screen. The victims were able to identify Bailey by his social media page and it was confirmed by McLaughlin. McLaughlin later arrested the defendant on the new charge.

Under the plea agreement, Bailey received a 10-year sentence with all but six months suspended on the grand larceny charge. No formal finding was rendered on the possession of heroin charge, as Bailey will enter into the first offender program. If completed successfully, the drug charge will be dropped and/or dismissed.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–Donna Maria Gainey, 50, of the 9600 block of Dry Creek Road, Chesterfield, received a one-year term as part of formal sentencing on a lone charge of petty larceny (second of subsequent offense). During an Aug. 21 trial, Gainey admitted that she entered into the Dollar General store in Quinton and placed items in her purse. After being caught by an employee and the sheriff’s office being notified, she confessed to the crime and returned approximately $30 of items.

Gainey received a five-year sentence with four years suspended as part of the formal sentencing. Her sentence was also part of a plea deal that was reached during her August trial.

–Beatrice Yvonne Horton, 55, of the 2700 block of Windsor Shades Lane, Providence Forge, agreed to the terms of a plea deal and entered a guilty plea to a lone charge of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).

In a summary of evidence, on June 20 Deputy Wyatt Johnston saw a car parked in a crossover in the Providence Forge area. After inquiring of the driver, identified as Horton, if she was okay, she responded she was just searching for a lost earring. However, the deputy noticed the defendant sweating and asked to check the car as the area had been one of high drug trafficking. Horton declined the request, but Johnston noticed the defendant slide something between the driver’s side door and the driver’s seat.

The deputy asked to check the pill bottles to make sure they were hers and contained the appropriate medicine and she consented. Inside a bottle labeled “oxycodone”, marijuana buds were discovered; prompting Johnston to removed Horton from the car and conduct a search. A search of the vehicle yielded the discovery of a tissue with a substance inside of it, later identified as cocaine. Johnston searched beside the driver’s side door and recovered a pipe that had residue of cocaine on it. Horton was arrested and taken into custody.

Under the plea agreement, no formal finding was rendered, as Harris will enroll in the first offender program.

–Sheena Charde Stokes, 31, of the 700 block of Rutherford Street, Hampton, received formal sentencing on a reduce charge of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia (originally possession of cocaine). Stokes entered a no contest plea during an Aug. 28 trial. At that trial, it was discovered that she possessed the substance after a state trooper initiated a traffic stop. The charge was reduced due after the defendant complied with counseling and treatment.

Stokes received a 12-month sentence with all time suspended, but will remain on probation for five years.