Man who shot himself in leg pleads guilty for illegally possessing gun in New Kent

There are laws in the Commonwealth of Virginia that prevent a felon from possession a firearm or gun unless their rights have been restored by the governor. For one Providence Forge man, he may have wished to follow that law after shooting himself in the leg.

Jack Wade Haigler, 52, of the 3100 block of Piney Slope Lane, entered a straight guilty plea to one count of possession of a gun by a non-violent felon during proceedings Monday in New Kent Circuit Court.

In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, on June 16, 2018, New Kent Sheriff’s Office received a call of a possible hunting accident. When they arrived, they found the defendant with a self-inflicted gun wound. At first, the defendant said he was shooting squirrels at the time. However, Haigler later confessed that he was reaching for his cigarettes when he accidently squeezed the trigger of a revolver, resulting in the wound to his leg. An investigation discovered that Haigler was a convicted felon stemming from a 2003 charge where he was found guilty as a habitual offender.

A presentence report has been ordered with formal sentencing scheduled for Mar. 18. Sentencing guidelines recommend a sentence range between seven to eleven months for Haigler.

In another case, charges have been dropped against a Quinton man who was accused of sex crimes against a minor.

Junior Leroy Layman, 77, had been charged with four counts of child abuse, two counts of aggravated sexual battery with a minor, and one count of sodomy of a minor. A jury heard the case originally on Nov. 13, 2018, but the results came back as a mistrial. According to Gregory, the victim in the case was unavailable to testify at an upcoming jury trial and the charges were dropped.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–Samantha Monique Brown, 25, of the 4900 block of Goddin Circle, Richmond, accepted a plea deal and entered a guilty plea to one count of felony eluding of police. One charge of misdemeanor reckless driving was dropped as part of the agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on May 3, 2018, a Virginia State Trooper observed a motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound on Interstate 64. When the officer attempted to pull over the motorcycle, the operator did not stop and instead, accelerated reaching speeds up to 120 miles per hour. After the trooper lost site of the motorcycle near the 220-mile marker, another state trooper was able to spot the vehicle traveling westbound on Interstate 64 and the operator of the bike pulled over. Brown was identified as the driver and when questioned why she fled, she indicated she was scared and panicked.

Under the agreement, she received a five-year sentence with all time suspended.

–Sarah Elizabeth Hodges, 24, of the 100 block of Kings Pond Drive, Quinton, had one charge of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) dismissed after successfully completing the first offender program.

–Gregory Alan Norris, 24, of the 700 block of Clint Circle, Fredericksburg, had one charge of possession of a controlled substance (Oxycodone) dismissed after successfully completing the first offender program.