Quinton man receives 18 months for DUI maiming, child endangerment convictions

A Quinton man who wrecked a vehicle that caused severe injuries will spend the next 18 months incarcerated.

James Gray Priddy Jr., 30, of the 1600 block of Arrowhead Road, entered guilty pleas to one count each of felony child endangerment, DUI maiming, and misdemeanor DUI with an elevated blood-alcohol content level greater than .20 while a minor was in the car as part of a plea agreement reached Monday in New Kent Circuit Court. Two counts of DUI maiming were dropped as part of the plea deal.

In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney C. Linwood Gregory, on May 20, 2018 shortly after 5 p.m., Priddy and some passengers were leaving the Food Lion in Providence Forge and stopped by a local convenience store. At that store, the defendant picked up some alcohol and began to consume it on his drive home. According to the summary, speeds reached nearly 100 miles per hour on Interstate 64 West before the defendant exited at the Bottoms Bridge ramp to head home.

As Priddy neared his residence, the speed of the vehicle picked up and he lost control, hitting a tree. The accident caused a severe injury to Terry Pollock, whose back was broken in several places and also suffered severe internal injuries. A child in the back seat also suffered injuries along with a passenger in the front seat who had breaks in his neck and several lacerations. Priddy also injuries and was Med-Flight to a local facility where blood was drawn from him, with a reading of .24, three times the legal limit. After Priddy’s recovery, he was arrested on several of the charges.

Under the plea agreement, he received a 10-year sentence with nine years, three months suspended (nine months to serve) on the felony child neglect charge. He will also serve nine months out of a five-year sentence on the DUI maiming conviction. On the misdemeanor DUI charge, he received a 12-month sentence with all but 15 days suspended (with 15 days being the mandatory minimum to serve). He also received a fine of $2,500, with $1,500 suspended.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–Candida Danielle Franklin, 39, of the 100 block of West Street, Lousia, entered a guilty plea to one count of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on Oct. 20, 2018, New Kent deputies received information that Franklin was going to Henrico Jail East to turn herself in. Upon arrival, deputies served the defendant with additional warrants for her arrest. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a smoking device with a white substance on it. The substance was analyzed with tests revealing that cocaine was on the device.

Under the plea agreement, Franklin received a 10-year with all time suspended.

–Shane Meck, 29, of Virginia Beach, entered a straight guilty plea to one count of distribution of marijuana (greater than one-half ounce but less than five pounds).

In a summary of evidence, on Jan. 13, a New Kent deputy responded to a crash on Interstate 64 near the 210-mile marker. Upon arrival, the officer noticed an SUV in the median being hooked up by the tow truck. As the officer approached the vehicle, he detected the odor of marijuana. Meck, who was a passenger in the vehicle, stepped out of the tow truck along with the driver. After consent was given to search the SUV, a green plant-like material wrapped in bags were discovered in the floorboard of the back seat. The defendant confessed that he smoked in the vehicle and the items belonged to him.

Meck received a five-year sentence with all time suspended except time he had served awaiting trial (approximately five months).

–Ashleigh Chantil Morris, 25, of the 100 block of Tarleton Bivouac, Williamsburg, entered guilty pleas to one count each of credit card forgery and credit card larceny as part of a plea dea.

In a summary of evidence, on Nov. 25, 2018, Morris worked at the McDonald’s in Bottoms Bridge when Geraldine Bass, the victim, used the drive-thru for service. The next day, Bass realized that she did not have her card used in her transaction and went to her bank account. There, she noticed several transactions had taken place without her permission. Authorities were contacted and surveillance video showed Morris using the card at McDonald’s and FasMart in Bottoms Bridge. The card was also used at a Williamsburg Walmart near where the defendant lived.

Under the plea agreement, she received five-year sentences on each of the charges with all time suspended. Morris must pay restitution in the amount of $530.71 as part of the agreement.

–Keyshawn Marquette Warren, 20, of the 3000 block of Hanes Avenue, Richmond, pleaded guilty to an amended charged of unauthorized use of a vehicle (originally grand theft auto) and felony eluding as part of plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on Jan. 22, a vehicle was stolen from Aliyah Cooper out of Henrico County. On Jan. 30 around 11 a.m., a Hyundai SUV was clocked at 83 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone near Bottoms Bridge. A New Kent deputy attempted a traffic stop but the vehicle accelerated, exiting onto Interstate 64 eastbound where a pursuit initiated. The SUV exited at mile marker 220 and sped towards West Point. New Kent deputies and the state police were able to initiate to bring the vehicle to a stop using a rolling roadblock. Warren was arrested after the chase, and information returned to authorities about the vehicle’s theft.

Under the agreement, Warren received a five-year sentence with three years, six months suspended (one year, six months to serve) on the felony eluding charge. All five years on the unauthorized use of a vehicle conviction were suspended. The defendant must pay a total amount of $3,449.52 in restitution due to vehicular damage.