Conflicting stories result in not guilty verdict for Providence Forge man
A Providence Forge man that was charged with a single count of malicious wounding stemming from an alleged 2019 incident has been found not guilty.
Matthew Clifford Deskins, 40, of the 5800 block of Flowering Peach Lane, had the charge dismissed after a questionable motive of the allegation was presented by his defense team during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.
In the contested trial, prosecuting attorneys said that on Aug. 24, 2019, Jacqueline Hollis (formerly Waltman) said that Deskins was scheduled to have a blood transfusion. At the time, Hollis and Deskins were in a relationship and the two were planning to go to Rosie’s Gaming Emporium on that day. After Deskins failed to meet her there for dinner, Hollis went to his house and both begin to travel to Rosie’s.
According to Hollis’ rendition of events, Deskins went to a vacant side of the parking lot and parked during the vehicle. Hollis claimed that after her phone rang, Deskins threw it out the window. The defendant allegedly proceeded to kick Hollis in the head and the body.
“It hurt to breath,” Hollis testified. “Afterwards, he said, ‘Now no one is going to think you’re pretty.’”
The defense team cross-examined Hollis, challenging her credibility of the events of that day. While Hollis admitted she was drinking on the day in question, she couldn’t remember many details of the day, referencing to it taking place two years ago.
The defense continued to jog Hollis’ memory, asking what Deskins was wearing the day of the offense and the information she told New Kent Detective Brent Thomas. When the detective took the witness stand, he referenced an argument between the pair and said that Hollis jumped out the vehicle and Deskins threw her shoes out of the car.
As the case proceeded, more information divulged as Amber Thomas, who was planning to move into the home of Deskins the day after the alleged crime, was called to testify. She testified that she understood the relationship of the parties involved in the alleged incident. The defense sought to use her testimony to plant a seed that Hollis’ motive could be revenge.
“She is a narcissistic liar,” Thomas said as she concluded her testimony.
More testimony came from an employee of Rosie’s who witnessed the confrontation. He said that Hollis was thrown out the car. When asked why he didn’t get involved, he commented that he didn’t want police to get involved.
The prosecution challenged the Rosie’s employee, who name was being withheld for purposes of the trial. When asked about Hollis response if a confrontation took place, he responded by saying that she said, “no.”
Deskins took the stand on his own behalf. The defendant claimed that the last time Hollis was in his domain was a few days prior to the incident because she had taken his car out and not returned it. Deskins’ testimony also contradicted an earlier statement by Hollis of her being there all month.
“She was only there three to four days,” he commented.
Deskins’ story said he had no plans to go to Rosie’s because of his work shift and blood transfusion. He said that after she returned to his home a second time after walking to the facility, that’s when she got into the vehicle. According to the defendant, that’s when the two began to argue in the parking lot and he made a U-turn to return home. At that time, Hollis jumped from the vehicle and then he threw her shoes from the vehicle. Deskins also testified that he returned around midnight to locate Hollins and found her phone and took it back to his house before being arrested the next day.
After closing remarks, Judge B. Elliott Bondurant made his comments.
“While there was proof that injuries did happen, there was no way to prove how they happened,” the judge said before rendering the not guilty verdict.
In other circuit court proceedings:
–Avery T. Waterman III, 33, of the 2700 block of Patriots Landing Drive, Quinton, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of failing to report an accident (originally felony hit and run).
In a summary of evidence, on Aug. 24, 2020, Waterman was the passenger of a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado truck when it ran a stop sign on Henpeck Road and collided with a Red Ford Excursion. The truck fled the scene of the accident and the authorities were able to identify the vehicle. However, the defendant failed to report the accident, which is required by law.
Waterman received a five-year jail sentence with four years, nine months suspended (three months to serve). He will also receive a 10-day active jail sentence for pleading no contest to violating conditions of his pretrial bail.