New Kent Charles City Chronicle

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

Newport News man receives five-year prison sentence for robbing Stewart’s Grocery in Lanexa

By Andre Jones | July 12, 2021 5:13 pm

Muhammad

A man who robbed a store in the eastern part of New Kent County will spend the next five years in prison.

Karim Aziz Muhammad, 47, of the 100 block of North Redwood Court, Newport News, learned his sentence during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

During a March 15, trial, Muhammad entered into a plea agreement and confessed to the Apr. 11, 2020 crime. During his trial, a summary of evidence presented by special prosecutor Rob Tyler showed that Muhammad walked up to make a purchase of peanuts at Stewart’s Grocery in Lanexa. When the cashier opened the drawer to retrieve change, the defendant reached over and took $375 out of the register before leaving. Authorities were able to track down the vehicle Muhammad drove thanks to the license plate, with the defendant eventually turning himself in three days later.

During his sentencing, Muhammad made brief comments on his reasoning for committing the crime.

“I was at a bad place in my life,” he told the court. “I was dealing with substance abuse problems. I made an impulse decision.

“I’m not a monster, and I’m not a victimizer,” he added. “I’m a human. I ask the court to show some leniency as I work to get my life together.”

Judge B. Elliott Bondurant commented that he weighed both sides of arguments presented by lawyers at the sentencing phase. The judge also commented that new legislation has affected guidelines as well. Ultimately, Bondurant sentenced Muhammad to a 20-year prison sentence with 15 years suspended (five years to serve).

In other New Kent Circuit Court matters that occurred Monday:

–Detroy Nevaeh Mason, 19, of the 1400 block of Longdale Drive, Norfolk, entered a guilty plea to one count of grand theft auto as part of a plea deal.

In a summary of evidence, on May 31, 2020, New Kent Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call for service to United Auto Sales on Pocahontas Trail after several vehicles were damaged and stolen from the property. Five days later, one of the vehicles was located in Norfolk with the defendant inside of it. During an interview with the defendant, he admitted that he and others were involved in stealing the vehicles.

Under the agreement, Mason received a five-year sentence with all but one month suspended on his conviction. He must pay restitution in the amount of $17,088.55, which was the cost of the vehicle. Mason is also facing similar charges in other jurisdictions.

–Hannah Lynn Schureman, 19, of the 5000 block of Holly Road, Quinton, had one charge of possession of a Schedule I/II substance dismissed after successfully completing the First Offender Program.

–William Allen Snyder, 29 of the 500 block of Wales Drive, Highland Springs, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of misdemeanor unauthorized use of a vehicle (originally grand theft auto).

In a summary of evidence, on June 27, 2020, a New Kent deputy responded to a residence on Oakwood Drive regarding a missing vehicle belonging to Katherine Sheridan. Upon an investigation, it was determined Snyder, who was in a previous relationship with the victim, had taken the vehicle without permission. While the vehicle was found undamaged, it was impounded by a tow company.

Under the plea agreement, Snyder received a 12-month sentence with six months suspended (six months to serve) on the guilty conviction. He must also pay $700 to compensate the cost for the victim’s vehicle to be taken out of impound and returned to her.

–Jeremy William Webb, 30, of 5 East Lawn Drive, Hampton, will serve six months in jail after receiving formal sentencing on one count of felony eluding of police and two misdemeanor counts of reckless driving.

Webb entered Alford Pleas of Guilt during his Apr. 19 trial, stipulating that while he maintained his innocence, evidence presented during his trial would be enough to convict him of the offense. During that trial, evidence presented that on July 11, 2020, Webb had gotten into an altercation with a victim and chased them on Interstate 64 in New Kent. The victim traveled northbound on Courthouse Road (Route 155) when authorities joined the chase. Authorities were eventually able to stop the defendant at the intersection of Courthouse Road and New Kent Highway (Route 249) and take him into custody.

Webb received a five-year jail sentence with four years, six months suspended on the felony eluding of police conviction (six months to serve). All 12 months on each of the two reckless driving charges were suspended.

–Kierra Ebony Winfield, 28, of the 1000 block of Charlotte Street, Norfolk, entered a guilty plea to one count of assault on a law enforcement officer as part of a plea agreement. An additional charge of assault on a law enforcement officer, four counts of misdemeanor obstruction of justice, and one count each of misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, public intoxication, identity theft, providing a false identification to an officer, possession of marijuana (civil offense), and expectorating were dropped as part of the deal.

In a summary of evidence, on Feb. 17, New Kent deputies stopped a vehicle at the Pit Stop near Interstate 64 in Providence Forge in response to an outstanding warrant for Winfield. When the deputies attempted to arrest the defendant, she tried to resist arrest. After she dropped her items, she attempted to kick them away so that she could not be identified. Instead of kicking the items, she struck a Virginia State Trooper who was now on scene, prompting the charge. Winfield was eventually taken into custody.

Under the agreement, Winfield received a five-year sentence with four years, six months suspended (six months to serve). The six months of active time is the mandatory minimum under the state statute.