Williamsburg man sentenced to 15 months in jail after driving illegally

A Williamsburg man will spend the next 15 months in jail stemming from an incident after wrecking his car in Eltham.

Sean Scott Harrelson, 30, of the 100 block of Old Field Road, entered guilty pleas to one count each of driving revoked after being convicted of a similar felony, and DUI (third offense within ten years) as part of a plea deal reached Monday in New Kent Circuit Court. One charge of misdemeanor reckless driving was dropped.

In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, on Jan. 3 Virginia State Police responded to a single car accident on Route 33 near Medlin Ford where the vehicle had flipped. The driver, identified as Harrelson, told officers that he had four to five shots of rum. A breathalyzer test revealed a blood alcohol content level of .15, nearly twice the legal limit. A background search of Harrelson’s record revealed that his license had been revoked and that this is his third DUI offense with a 10-year span, with prior ones in 2011 and 2017.

Under the agreement, Harrelson received a five-year jail term with all but one year suspended on the driving revoked charge. He also received a five-year sentence on the DUI conviction, with all but three months suspended. His one year, three months of active incarceration is mandatory time that he must serve under the state statute. Harrelson was also fined $1,000.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–David Martin Anstey, 34, of 48B Saint Lo Road, Fort Lee, accepted a plea deal and entered guilty pleas to an amended charge of misdemeanor felony destruction of property (originally felony destruction of property) and misdemeanor unlawful entry. One charge of attempted burglary was dropped.

In a summary of evidence, on Aug. 3, 2017, Anstey and a family member got into an argument at Ed Allen’s Campground in Lanexa. Anstey chased the individual into a trailer belonging to Russell McMillan. When the defendant tried to enter, McMillan denied access to enter. Anstey attempted to force his way into the trailer, breaking a door in the process. Officers arrived shortly afterwards and apprehended the defendant.

Under the agreement, Anstey received six-month sentences with all time suspended on both charges. He also paid $1,620 in restitution for damages to the door.

–Ray Linwood Brown Jr., 23, of the 8700 block of Adkins Road, Charles City, was sentenced to seven months in jail and referred to the CCAP program as part of formal sentencing. Brown entered guilty pleas to one count each of distribution of cocaine and misdemeanor pretrial violation as part of a Feb. 12 trial where he admitted to selling the substance to an informant inside the Bottoms Bridge McDonald’s.

Brown received a 10-year jail sentence with nine years, five months suspended on the distribution of cocaine charge. All 12 months on the misdemeanor pretrial violation conviction were suspended.

–Michael James Cunningham, 19, of the 400 block of Ninth Street, Virginia Beach, pleaded no contest to one count of possession of cocaine as part of a plea agreement. One charge of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia was dropped.

In a summary of evidence, on Oct. 13, 2017, conservation officers were at the Bottoms Bridge Food Lion when they noticed a man urinating at the wood line. Officers noticed the man return to a vehicle where it appeared he was smoking an illegal substance. A traffic stop was initiated, and an odor of marijuana was detected coming from the vehicle. A subsequent search resulted in the discovery of cocaine and Cunningham was arrested.

Under the agreement, no formal finding has been rendered as the defendant was placed into the first offender program.