Judge upholds jury’s recommendation; imposes 66-year prison sentence on Charles City man for sex crimes

A jury recommendation of 66 years for a Charles City man who had sexual interactions with a teenager was upheld during formal sentencing Friday morning in Charles City Circuit Court.

Jonathan Douglas McMullen, 35, of the 10000 block of Harrison Lake Drive, was sentenced by Judge B. Elliott Bondurant to a total of 20 years and a $100,000 fine on two charges of aggravated sexual battery against a minor between ages of 13-17 and sentenced to a total of 46 years on two charges of using an object for sexual penetration by force.

During a two-day trial in September, a jury convicted McMullen of the offenses. A teenage relative of McMullen was spending time at the defendant’s house and made advances towards the victim. According to testimony at that trial, McMullen asked the victim if she knew where certain sexual parts were on her body and eventually resulted in the defendant fondling the victim’s behind. McMullen also allegedly inserted his fingers inside of the defendant’s private area on more than one occasion, resulting in the other two convictions.

During sentencing, Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler said that the jury’s recommendation of 66 years should remain as the offenses that McMullen committed were aggravated. Defense attorney Denis Englisby argued on behalf of his client, reference the defendant had no criminal record and that the punishment exceeded recommended sentencing guidelines.

After hearing both sides, Bondurant upheld the jury’s recommendation, pointing to notes he took throughout the trial.

“When I look back over my notes, this situation became very progressive,” the judge said. “The defendant was self-medicated himself with marijuana and alcohol and he offered it to the victim.

“From there, it went from smoking to touching the defendant and eventually led to the sexual penetration,” Bondurant added. “It just continued to go further and further with the victim.”

McMullen stood by his innocence as sentencing was read to him.

“I did not do what I’m accused of sir,” he said prior to the judge imposing the jury’s recommendation.

McMullen indicated that he plans to appeal the verdict to a higher court.

In an unrelated case, a Charles City man will spend a year in jail after accepting a plea deal to a lone count of strangulation.

Christopher B. Adkins, 41, of the 6300 block of Courthouse Road, entered a guilty plea to the charge. In a summary of evidence, on Oct. 30, 2018, a Charles City deputy responded to an incident at a residence on Courthouse Road where Adkins and the victim had gotten into the argument. When the deputy arrived, the officer noticed injuries to the victim including bruises around their neck stemming from the strangulation. After an investigation, the defendant was arrested and taken into custody.

Under the plea agreement, Adkins received a five-year sentence with four years suspended (one to serve).