Quinton car thieves plead guilty to all charges in New Kent Circuit Court

Jake Ragsdale (left) and Hunter Waddell (right) entered guilty pleas to several charges during Monday afternoon court proceedings in New Kent.

Two men involved with a rash of automobile thefts and multiple larcenies entered guilty pleas to all charges during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

Jake Sterling Ragsdale, 27, of the 500 block of E. Read Street, Highland Springs, and Hunter S. Waddell, 21, of the 3500 block of Darbytown Court, Henrico, admitted guilt to several offenses that took place late last year in New Kent as part of a plea deal.

In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, on Nov. 19, 2018, the defendants came into New Kent to residences on Quinton Road. The duo began tampering with several vehicles, eventually stealing two of them. Along with the vehicles, a multitude of other items were taken form vehicles and sheds of property owners. Among them include tools, headphones, SCUBA gear, cash, wallets, tectonic radios, rifles, rings, and a cutting saw.

On Dec. 11, 2018, a third co-defendant drove Waddell back into the Quinton neighborhood where he stole more items. An officer noticed the co-defendant and questioned them about their presence on the road before that co-defendant fled into the woods.

A joint investigation between several police departments began, with Waddell and Ragsdale being identified as suspects. Surveillance began at Ragsdale’s home by authorities. During that time, a vehicle pulled into the yard and one of the suspects emerged and walked into the home. Officers ran the license plate through a system and found out the vehicle had been stolen out of Middlesex County. With the information in hand, the defendants were later arrested and inside the vehicle were items stolen from other crimes. A search of the home recovered additional personal belongings that were reported missing by the victims.

Ragsdale entered guilty pleas to two counts of grand theft auto, one count felony destruction of property, two counts of grand larceny, two counts of firearm larceny, one count of possession of a weapon by a violent felon, six counts of misdemeanor tampering with a vehicle, and four counts of misdemeanor petty larceny. On his charges, Ragsdale received a five-year sentence on the possession of a weapon by a violent felon as part of his plea agreement. Five years on each of the remaining felony charges were suspended, while 12 months on each of the remaining 10 misdemeanor charges were suspended. He must also pay $6,549.59 in restitution.

Waddell entered guilty pleas to three counts of grand theft auto, one count of credit card larceny, one count of felony destruction of property, tow counts of firearm larceny, two counts of grand larceny, four counts of misdemeanor petty larceny, one count of possession of a gun by a nonviolent felon, and eight counts of misdemeanor tampering with a vehicle. On the possession of a gun by a nonviolent felon, he received a five-year sentence with two years, four months suspended (two years, eight months to serve). All five years on each of the remaining felony charges were suspended, and 12 months on each of the remaining misdemeanor charges were suspended as part of the plea agreement. He must also pay $7,219.09 in restitution.

In other circuit court matters:

–John Nicholas Beach, 27, of the 8300 block of Warriner Road, Sandston, entered a straight guilty plea to a lone count of possession of a controlled substance (Fentanyl).

In a summary of evidence, on June 6, 2018, a New Kent deputy responded to a residence where a male had apparently overdosed. The male was revived with Narcan and identified as Beach. When questioned, the defendant told the officer that he had used a syringed to inject himself. An investigation of the scene discovered the syringe along with a burnt spoon where the substance was discovered on. Beach was arrested and taken into custody for the possession.

Formal sentencing for Beach is scheduled for May 20. Sentencing guidelines recommend a range of three to six months for committing the offense.

–Michael James Cunningham, 20, of the 400 block of Ninth Street, Virginia Beach, had one charge of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) dismissed. Cunningham successfully competed the requirements of the First Offender Program.

–Beatrice Yvonne Horton, 56, of the 2700 block of Windsor Shades Lane, Providence Forge, had one charge of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and one charge of misdemeanor pretrial violation dismissed after successfully completing the First Offender Program.

–Steven Anthony Odell, 60, of the 100 block of E. Reynolds Avenue, Princeton, West Virginia, received formal sentencing on two counts of attempted malicious wounding and one count of strangulation stemming from a June 1, 2018 incident. On that day, Odell was allegedly intoxicated when he got into an altercation with the victims.

Odell received a five-year sentence with four years, six months suspended on one of the attempted malicious wounding. All five years on the remaining attempted malicious wounding charge and all five years on the strangulation charge were suspended.

–William Cardell Spencer, 23, of the 900 block of Marietta Avenue, Norfolk, entered guilty pleas to two counts of credit card forgery as part of a plea agreement. One county of possession of a credit card forgery device was dropped.

In a summary of evidence, on Dec. 3, 2018, a Virginia State Trooper noticed a van traveling at 102 miles per hour eastbound on Interstate 64 just before 8 p.m. After initiating a traffic stop, the officer detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search was conducted, and the trooper noticed a black and gray credit card reader in the center console. On top of the reader were two cards with Spencer’s name on them. A special agent was called to the scene and swiped the cards on a reader, discovering that the cards were forged. When questioned about it, Spencer admitted to skimming cards.

Under the plea agreement, all five years on each of the two charges were suspended. The defendant, however, must pay a total of $500 in fines.