Charles City man linked to stealing auto parts in New Kent, receives 17 months in jail

A Charles City man will spend the next 17 months in jail after accepting a plea agreement to a single count of grand larceny in New Kent Circuit Court.

Todd Randolph Guthrie, 29, of the 3400 block of Roxbury Road, entered an Alford Plea of guilt to a theft from Ron’s Auto in New Kent. One charge of possession of a Schedule I/II substance was dismissed. An Alford Plea indicates that 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 presented by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, between Sept. 30, 2017 and Nov. 21, 2017, the owner of Ron’s Auto noticed car parts that included batteries and wheels were missing from cars that were stored on his property. An investigation revealed that Guthrie, who was living on the property at that time, was taking the parts to Be Green Recycling. When a second offense that found condensers, radiators, and converters were found missing, Guthrie was linked to the crimes by Be Green Recycling who indicated that the defendant brought the items in and sold them.

Under the agreement, Guthrie received a 10-year sentence with eight years, seven months suspended (one year, five months to serve).

In other circuit court action Monday morning:

–Kevin Wayne Craig, 45, of the 500 block of E. Washington Street, Highland Springs, accepted a plea deal and entered a guilty plea to possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).

In a summary of evidence, on June 6, 2018, a New Kent deputy responded to a 911 hang-up call in Woodhaven Shores. When he arrived, he noticed a vehicle where the driver had bloodshot eyes and detected the odor of alcohol. When investigating, the passenger, identified as Craig, was asked if he had an identification card. When it was produced, the deputy noticed small green material on the card and the defendant told him it was old marijuana. A search of Craig recovered a crack pipe with burnt cocaine on it and he was subsequently arrested.

Under the plea deal, Craig received a five-year sentence with four years, four months of time suspended (eight months to serve).

–Braden Marc Fargo, 20, of the 5600 block of Surry Avenue, Newport News, and Joseph Hunter Kiah, 23, of the 300 block of Canton Street, Ogdensburg, New York, both entered guilty pleas to an amended charge of misdemeanor assault and battery (originally malicious wounding) as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, Fargo and Kiah were at a wedding reception on May 20, 2018 when the two were involved in a physical altercation with Evan Deskins.

Under the agreement, each man received a 12-month sentence with all but four days suspended. They each must also pay $1,750 in restitution.

–James Chrisman Rentschler, 57, of the 100 block of Happy Landing Way, Maple, North Carolina, entered guilty pleas to amended charges of misdemeanor unlawful entry (originally burglary) and misdemeanor petty larceny (originally grand larceny) as part of a plea deal.

In a summary of evidence, around July 19, 2018, a preacher at Liberty Baptist Church discovered that the basement door had been tampered with and that two speakers, two stands, and an audio mixer were missing from the building. An investigation was conducted and the items were discovered to have been pawned in Chesapeake with the defendant the individual who pawned them. When confronted, the defendant admitted that he did it because he was addicted to pain medicine.

Under the plea deal, Rentschler received a 12-month sentence with all but 16 days suspended on the unlawful entry conviction. All 12 months on the petty larceny conviction were suspended and he must pay restitution.

–David Chase Wilson, 23, of the 600 block of Reese Drive, Sandston, was sentenced to one year, 11 months in jail on one charge of credit card larceny as part of formal sentencing. Three years on each of the two remaining credit card larceny charges were suspended. During an Oct. 22 trial, Wilson entered into a plea agreement and admitted that he stole a Suntrust Card, a Chase credit card, and a J.C. Penney card belonging to Aaron and Shannon Britton and used them.