Mechanicsville man to serve four years incarcerated after having sexual encounter with New Kent minor
A Mechanicsville man who had sexual interactions with a minor in New Kent County will spend the next four years incarcerated after receiving formal sentencing during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.
Christopher Ray Sheffield, 21, was sentenced to 10 years in prison with six years, nine months suspended (three years, three months to serve) on propositioning a minor to perform pornography. He will also serve a 12-month jail sentence for having consensual sex with a minor.
During a Dec. 14, 2020 trial, Sheffield entered guilty pleas to the two charges that stemmed from a Feb. 21, 2020 offense date. At his trial, a summary of evidence presented by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick revealed that a property owner was notified about a possible break-in at his residence. When police arrived, they were greeted by a minor. The homeowner gave consent to search the residence, resulting in the discovery of an adult male in a bedroom closet, later identified as Sheffield. When questioned why he was up in the bedroom, the defendant admitted that he had intercourse with the minor. A later investigation discovered that Sheffield had texted the minor and requested pictures of her in the nude.
Judge B. Elliott Bondurant made a comment after hearing arguments on the sentencing range, pointing to the defendant’s criminal timeline.
“Two months after he was released from similar Hanover charges [in Dec. 2019], he went out and did something similar,” the judge commented. “The worse thing is that he didn’t comply with the conditions of being a sex offender that include no use of the Internet or contact with someone under the age of 18.”
Sheffield is also serving a six-year sentence in adjacent Hanover County for violating probation due to his conviction in Hanover of a similar nature.
In other circuit court matters:
–Nicholas Webster Cesare, 29, of the 18000 block of New Kent Highway, Barhamsville, pled guilty to one count each of felony destruction of property
and grand larceny as part of a plea deal.
In a summary of evidence, between Aug. 28-Sept. 1, 2020, a boat belonging to Arthur Tegenburg was being stored at Rick’s Local Deli. Over that time period, the owners of the store noticed a boat motor being moved and damaged. Hunting cameras were set up to film the possible theft and on Sept. 1, a man with distinct tattoos was seen taking the motor. The hunting cameras were able to read the license plate of the vehicle, a truck that belonged to an associate of Cesare. When questioned, the defendant admitted to the offenses.
Under the plea agreement, Cesare received a five-year jail sentence with three years, nine months suspended (one year, three months to serve). All 10 years on the grand larceny conviction were suspended.
–Charles Samuel Pittman, 33, of the 4900 block of Belcher Lane, Barhamsville, entered guilty pleas to misdemeanor destruction of property and misdemeanor possession of a Schedule III substance as part of a plea agreement. Once charge of making a bomb threat and possession of a Schedule I/II drug were dropped.
In a summary of evidence, on Aug. 25, 2020, a New Kent deputy responded to a residence where the complainant and defendant had gotten into an altercation. During that altercation, Pittman threw his phone at a windshield, damaging the victim’s car. After being placed into custody, a search of the residence discovered a brown bag with syringes inside of it. The syringes contained Buprenorphine, a Schedule III drug.
Under the plea agreement, Pittman received a 12-month jail sentence with all but 45 days suspended on the misdemeanor destruction of property conviction. He was fine $250 on the possession of a Schedule III drug charge.