New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 28, 2024

Man receives 16-month jail sentence for driving under the influence in Charles City

By Andre Jones | August 7, 2020 12:14 pm

A man who operated a vehicle under the influence of alcohol in Charles City will spend the next 16 months in jail.

Matthew Ryan Mayer, 30, of the 10000 block of Blue Ridge Drive, Hurt, entered guilty pleas to one count each of DUI (third offense) and misdemeanor driving revoked as part of a plea deal during Friday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. One charge each of misdemeanor refusal to take a breath test and misdemeanor destruction of property were dropped as part of the agreement.

In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler, on Feb. 7 a Charles City deputy responded to a report of a car in a ditch on Adkins Road. When the officer arrived, he detected an odor of alcohol and observed signs of intoxication. Mayer, now identified as the driver, failed a field sobriety test and was subsequently arrested. A background check on Mayer discovered that he had been arrested on two similar offenses within the last 10 years out of Henrico.

Under the plea agreement, Mayer received a five-year jail term with three years, eight months suspended (one year, four months to serve). All 30 days on the misdemeanor driving revoked charge were suspended. He must also pay a fine of $1,000 and contribute $50 to the Trauma Center Fund.

In another circuit court matter, a Providence Forge woman received formal sentencing on an unlawful wounding conviction.

Whitney Leeann Young, 20, of the 8600 block of Samaria Lane, received a 10-year sentence with all time suspended on the conviction. During a June 5 trial, Young entered a guilty plea to the amended charge (originally malicious wounding) stemming from a Sept. 16, 2019 incident where she stabbed the shoulder of the victim.

Young will be placed on probation as part of her suspended sentence.