Threatening officers result in convictions for Quinton man

A Quinton man who threatened officers with a shotgun after a heated argument was found guilty during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

Eric Tremaine Williams Sr., 47, of the 1400 block of Quaker Road, was convicted on two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer and a single count of misdemeanor obstruction of justice as part of the contested trial. One charge of brandishing a firearm was dropped.

On March 3, New Kent Deputies Ethan Townsend, William Dyer, and Cole Thomas went to the residence of Eric Williams Jr. to serve him a warrant for his arrest. After spotting Williams Jr. vehicle, Townsend followed him into his yard. Williams Jr. exited the vehicle and began to flee from the officers. When the deputies went to serve Williams Jr. his warrant, Donna Williams confronted them and inquired why they were on the property. A heated argument between Donna Williams and the deputies began, leading to Williams Sr. coming out the house. As Williams Sr. tried to approach his wife, the officers instructed him to back-up. After Williams Sr. did so, he went back into his residence and implicated to officers that he was going to “do something.”

According to testimony from Dyer, he saw Williams Sr. with a shotgun in his hand and heard it being cocked. Deputy Thomas said something similar, hearing the closure of the bolt on the shotgun. Officers detained Donna Williams and brought her back to one of the sheriff’s vehicles while seeking shelter from a possible shootout. Instead, Williams Sr. and Williams Jr. surrendered after the encounter. A search of the house was executed after a warrant was granted, discovering the firearm that was used in the offense.

Members of the Williams’ family testified, saying that the events of that day were different.

“I saw my father outside with the officers and when I went back in the house, he was a couple steps behind me,” testified Erica Williams, Williams Sr.’s daughter.

But the daughter’s testimony, however, was different from what Williams Jr. said from the witness stand.

“I didn’t see my sister with my dad,” he said. “I know my dad also didn’t have the shotgun,” Williams Jr. added, saying he moved the weapon from the front door and back inside of the house.

Williams Sr. elected to testify on his behalf, saying that the words used by him in the confrontation did not relate to the weapon.

“When I said I was going to do something about this, it meant I was going to get my son and tell him to turn himself in,” Williams Sr. testified. “I took about five minutes to put on my clothes and talk to him about the situation and that’s when me and him both walked out the house.

“When I was arrested, I asked why I was being arrested,” Williams Sr. continued. “I have been a good citizen all my life and I know right from wrong. I believe I didn’t do anything wrong and all I was doing was going to get my son.”

Judge B. Elliott Bondurant rendered his verdict in a matter of moments, picking out the main difference between the testimony put on by the prosecution and the testimony put on by the defense.

“I don’t believe one word the Williams’ family said,” Bondurant commented. “As I sat here, all the officers had similar stories and said the same thing. When I listen to the Williams’ stories, they are inconsistent.

“The fact is that Mr. Williams [Sr.] was upset about what was happening to his wife,” the judge continued. “I do believe he threatened the officers and I find him guilty on both the felony assault on a law enforcement charges and the misdemeanor charge.”

Formal sentencing for Williams Sr. is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2020. In other proceedings conducted in New Kent Circuit Court:

–Sterling Stewart Barnes Sr., 42, of Charles City, entered guilty pleas to two amended charges of possession of a controlled substance (originally distribution of a controlled substance). Two additional charges of distribution of a controlled substance were dropped as part of the agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on Jan. 17, 2018 and Jan. 20, 2018, a confidential informant obtained an illegal substance from the defendant. The substance was turned over to the authorities and tested, with the results revealing that it was cocaine. Barnes was picked up on the evidence and charged with possession of cocaine as a result.

Under the agreement, Barnes received a five-year sentence with four years, three months suspended (nine months to serve) on the first possession conviction. All five years on the second conviction were suspended. He must also pay restitution in the amount of $675.

–Bernard Betrum Bethel, 28, of the 4900 block of Helen Potts Place, Williamsburg, will serve four months in jail as part of formal sentencing. Bethel was convicted during a Nov. 4 contested trial where evidence determined that on Apr. 26, 2018, he threw a glass bottle out a window at Jennifer Smith Brown as the result of a road range incident.

Bethel received a 10-year sentence with nine years, eight months suspended on the malicious throwing of an object out a window. He received a one-year sentence with all time suspended on a felony failure to appear conviction and will have to pay a $300 fine as the result of driving without a license.

–Amber Nicole Deaton, 37, of the 5600 block of Hogan Bridge Drive, Providence Forge, received formal sentencing on one count of possession of chemicals by a prisoner. During an Oct. 18 trial, Deaton entered a no contest plea, stipulating that evidence presented would be enough to convict her of the crime. At that trial, it was determined that the defendant hid a bottle consisting of amphetamine, Alprazolan, Vyvanse, and cocaine between her crotch that was discovered during a routine search on May 3.

Deaton received a five-year sentence with all but 60 days suspended on the conviction.

–Shaun Kenneth Foley, 35, of the 7300 block of Farmer’s Drive, Barhamsville, received formal sentencing on an amended charge of misdemeanor distribution of marijuana (originally felony distribution of marijuana), and possession of a controlled substance. During an Oct. 28 trial, Foley admitted that he was in possession of the illegal substances on May 23, 2018 when officers searched his vehicle at a safety checkpoint.

Foley received a five-year sentence with all time suspended on the possession of a schedule I/II substance. All 12 months on the misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge were suspended as well.

–Abigail Faye Hall, 28, of Quinton, and Daniel Troy Lawson II, 35, of Quinton, both entered into plea agreements and pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the same crime.

On Jan. 29, New Kent Sheriff’s Office received a Crime Stoppers tip from a confidential informant about drug activity in the Quinton area. Hall and Lawson were identified as the suspects based off the discovery of marijuana flakes in a vacuum sealed bag discovered in the garbage can outside their residence. A search warrant was executed for the home, with the discovery of Cassia Oil and Psilocyn in small amounts in the building.

Lawson pleaded guilty to two amended charges of possession of a controlled substance (originally possession with intent to distribute). He received five years on each charge, with all time suspended. Once charge of possession of a gun while in possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of marijuana was dropped as part of the plea deal.

Hall agreed to plead guilty to an amended charge of possession of a controlled substance (originally possession with intent to distribute). One count each of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a gun while in possession of a schedule I/II drug, and misdemeanor possession of marijuana were dropped as part of the agreement. No formal finding was rendered for Hall, as she will participate in the first offender’s program.

–Isaac Alim Newman, 32, of the 8000 block of Point Lookout Road, West Point, entered guilty pleas to amended charges of misdemeanor unlawful entry (originally breaking and entering) and misdemeanor assault and battery (originally assault on a law enforcement officer), misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon, and misdemeanor assault and battery as part of a plea agreement. Once charge each of misdemeanor resisting arrest and misdemeanor public intoxication were dropped.

In a summary of evidence, on July 9, the defendant’s vehicle became stuck in a ditch in front of Charles Brooks home. Brooks along with one of his relatives assisted Newman with getting the vehicle. When Newman looked into his car, money had allegedly been taken from it. Newman went to Brooks’ house where he got into a physical altercation with the victim. Officers arrived and the defendant became belligerent. When Newman was sitting in the passenger’s seat of the vehicle that a relative used to pick him up, he told officers he had a gun and pulled it out, handing it to one of the responding deputies. When the deputies tried to arrest Newman, another altercation ensued with one officer the recipient of a headbutt. Newman was eventually subdued and taken into custody.

Under the plea agreement, Newman received a 12-month sentence with two months suspended (10 months to serve) on one of the misdemeanor assault and battery charges. All 12 months on the misdemeanor convictions of unlawful entry, carrying a concealed weapon, and assault and battery were suspended. He must also pay $45 in restitution.

–Toni Mae Richardson, 63, of the 1400 block of North 19th Street, Richmond, entered a plea of no contest to one count of misdemeanor DUI while a child was inside the vehicle. One charge of felony child abuse and misdemeanor driving revoked were dropped.

In a summary of evidence, on July 13, a Virginia State Trooper responded to an accident at the 204-mile marker in New Kent just before 8 a.m. The trooper discovered that a vehicle had crashed into the guardrail of a work zone. The driver, identified as Richardson, said her vehicle was sideswiped, resulting in the accident. However, the officer detected the odor of alcohol on the defendant. In addition, the trooper saw a child in the booster seat in the back row of the vehicle. A sobriety test was conducted, with Richardson failing the test. A subsequent breathalyzer test revealed that her blood-alcohol content level was .09, which is over the legal limit.

Richardson received a 12-month sentence with all but five days suspended on the misdemeanor DUI conviction. She also received a $1,000 fine with $250 suspended.

–Raymond Cole Sams, 28, of the 7300 block of McClellan Road, Mechanicsville, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of misdemeanor eluding of police (originally felony eluding of police), and misdemeanor reckless driving as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on Aug. 6, a New Kent deputy noticed a motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed on Cosby Mill Road just after 10 p.m. The officer followed the vehicle as it traveled at high speeds on multiple roads before eventually getting on Route 60 East (Pocahontas Trail). After emergency equipment was activated by the officer, the motorcycle accelerated, exceeding speeds of 100 miles per hour. The motorcycle eventually crashed in Providence Forge and the driver, now identified as Sams, attempted to flee on foot. The deputy was able to catch up with the defendant and placed him into custody.

Under the agreement, Sams received a six-month sentence and $500 fine on the misdemeanor eluding conviction. He received a six-month sentence with five months suspended on the misdemeanor reckless driving conviction and must pay a $500 fine on that charge as well.

–Brandy Marie Sloan, 36, of Fredericksburg, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of a controlled substance and felony failure to appear.

In a summary of evidence, on Apr. 3, 2015, a New Kent deputy approached Sloan at the Pit Stop just off of Interstate 64 in Providence Forge. The officer said that Sloan along with a male seemed disoriented. After consent was given to search the vehicle, a second deputy on the scene noticed Sloan trying to hide a bag in her pocket. The second deputy walked over and noticed needed marks in the defendant’s arm and searched a box that supposedly had food Sloan had just purchased. Inside the box was a spoon with a white powdery substance, later identified as heroin. Sloan was arrested and released on bond but failed to appear on her court date in March 2016, prompting the failure to appear conviction.

Under the agreement, a presentence report is being prepared with sentencing guidelines recommending a range of three to six months to serve on the possession of heroin conviction. All three years on the felony failure to appear were suspended.

–Douglas Omar Zeledon-Linares, 26, of the 7600 block of Crestview Drive, Toano, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor DUI (second offense), and misdemeanor driving revoked.

In a summary of evidence, a New Kent deputy spotted a vehicle with a headlight out at a stop light. After a traffic stop was conducted, the officer noticed a green leafy substance on the floorboard of the vehicle. Zeledon-Linares, now identified as the driver, was removed from the vehicle and a subsequent search discovered a black pouch inside a cigarette packet. Inside the black pouch was 23 pink pills, later identified as Oxycodone. The defendant failed a field sobriety test and was taken into custody.

Under the agreement, no formal finding was rendered on the possession of a schedule I/II substance as Zeledon-Linares will enter into the first offender’s program. He received a 12-month sentence with 11 months, 20 days suspended on the misdemeanor DUI conviction, with 10 days being served required under state statute. He will also serve one month out of a 12-month sentence on the misdemeanor driving revoked charge, as well as pay $1,000 in fines.