Stabbing during altercation puts Quinton man in prison for five years

A verbal altercation that escalated into a stabbing after a physical confrontation will send a Quinton man to prison for five years.

Jeffrey Robert Behney Jr., 22, of the 6000 block of Pine Road, entered an Alford plea of guilt to an amended charge of malicious wounding (originally aggravated malicious wounding) as part of Dec. 18 proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. An Alford plea means while the defendant maintains his innocence, evidence presented in the case would be enough to convict him of the offense.

In a summary of evidence, on Apr. 4, New Kent deputies responded to the 6000 block of Hickory Road to investigate an alleged stabbing. Upon arriving, officers found the victim Steven Richard Cathell-Willis with a four-inch knife wound that punctured his lung. A description of the suspect was given and Behney was located.

As the investigation unfolded, Behney said the victim was yelling at him and a group of his friends, challenging them to a fight. Behney, who knew Cathell-Willis, went to the victim’s residence and told him to come outside and fight. When the victim did confront Behney, he was stabbed with the blade. When questioned by authorities, Behney told authorities “I may or may not have done it.” Later, he added that he believed the victim had a handgun and would have used it on him.

Behney received a 20-year prison sentence, with 15 years suspended (five to serve). He must also pay restitution in the amount of $69,753.34 to VCU Medical Services for the injuries caused to Cathell-Willis.

In another case, a Providence Forge man will spend the next 21 months in jail stemming from two different crimes on separate dates.

Eric Wayne Bassett, 51, of the 8200 block of Courthouse Road, accepted a plea deal to one count each of possession of cocaine and shoplifting (third or subsequent offense).

In a summary of evidence involving the possession of cocaine, on July 23, a New Kent deputy responded to Family Dollar in Providence Forge about the possibility of items being smuggled out the store. A description of the suspect was provided, and officers were able to locate Bassett at Adam’s Sports Mart. When asked about the incident, Bassett admitted he was in the store 45 minutes earlier but nothing else. Officers received consent to pat down the suspect and when the deputy patted the front pocket of Bassett, he asked him if that was a weapon. The defendant told him that it was a napkin, but as the deputy attempted to pull out the item, Bassett’s hand attempted to slip into his pocket. The deputy was able to restrain the defendant and pulled out a smoking pipe wrapped in napkins with a substance on it. A test of the substance came back as cocaine through a lab analysis report.

In a summary of the shoplifting case, on Sept. 4, a policeman responded to the ABC Store in Quinton after receiving a call from the manager. The employee indicated that a bottle of vodka was stolen shortly after 11 a.m. Video evidence showed a man, later identified as Bassett, picking up the bottle and slipping it down the leg of his pants before walking out the store. A New Kent deputy identified the defendant as the culprit based on his past interactions and was arrested. Background information revealed that Bassett had committed similar crimes two times before.

Under the plea agreement, the defendant received a five-year jail sentence with three years, three months suspended on the shoplifting conviction (one year, nine months to serve). All five years on the possession of cocaine charge were suspended.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–Turner Jurrell Hall, 37, currently of Henrico Jail East, entered an Alford plea of guilt to a lone count of assault on a police officer.

In a summary of evidence, on Sept. 15, a jail deputy was escorting Hall to the restricted housing unit. Hall became agitated and began to resist the
move, resulting in the deputy being bit and his skin broken.

Hall received a five-year jail sentence with all but eight months suspended. Six of the eight months imposed is mandatory time required under state law.

–Gregory Alan Norris, 23, of the 700 block of Clint Circle, Fredericksburg, accepted a plea to an amended charge of misdemeanor eluding of police (originally felony eluding of police), misdemeanor reckless driving, and possession of a schedule I/II substance (Oxycodone).

In a summary of evidence, on July 19 a Virginia State Trooper was traveling westbound on Interstate 64 near mile marker 222 shortly after 9:15 p.m. when a motorcycle passed him at a high rate of speed. The officer noticed the motorcycle drive on the center line and pass between two cars on the two-lane highway. The trooper began a pursuit with emergency equipment on, but the motorcycle continued to accelerate. After chasing the bike for six miles at speeds that reached nearly 140 miles per hour, the officer called off the pursuit due to safety concerns of other drivers. The trooper radioed ahead to advise other officers to be on the lookout for the motorcycle, resulting in a successful traffic stop conducted on Norris on Interstate 295 in Henrico County. When questioned on his speed and why he didn’t stop earlier, the defendant told officers he wasn’t having a good day, that he wasn’t thinking clearly, and he was sorry for his actions. Upon his arrest, a pill was located in the defendant’s pocket, later identified as Oxycodone.

Under the agreement, Norris received a six-month sentence with all but 10 days suspended on the misdemeanor eluding of police conviction. All six months on the misdemeanor reckless driving were suspended. The charge of possession of oxycodone will be dismissed if Norris successfully completes the first offender program. Finally, the defendant has to pay a total of $1,000 in fines for his actions.