New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 29, 2024

Third strike: Distributing drugs results in 25-year prison sentence for North Chesterfield man

By Andre Jones | July 19, 2021 6:31 pm

Laney

Quotable sayings about things that happen in threes include “third times a charm” and “three strikes and you’re out.” For a North Chesterfield man, the latter quote will result in him being incarcerated for the next quarter century.

Eric Marvin Laney, 44, of the 99 block of Jean Road, received a 25-year prison term on one count of distribution of a Schedule I/II drug (third offense) during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

The two-hour sentencing came on the heels after Laney accepted a plea agreement on May 3. As part of that agreement, two other offenses of the same nature were dropped, and his defense lawyer Ivan Fehrenbach would be provided the opportunity to argue that his offense should be reduced to being an accommodation to the distribution of a Schedule I/II drug.

During Laney’s trial in May, a summary of evidence presented showed that on Jan. 28, 2019 around 6:30 p.m., New Kent Sheriff’s Office and New Kent Fire and EMS responded to a residence and found Samantha Nicole Rigdon unconscious. She was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives recovered a lottery ticket with substances on it, later identified as heroin and Fentanyl. In June 2019, information found in a social media messenger detailed conversations Rigdon had with Laney. Laney was arrested in Dec. 2019 and admitted to providing drugs to Rigdon during a television interview with a local newspaper. A background examination revealed that it was Laney’s third time distributing a drug, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years.

In February 2021, a second-degree murder charge lodged against Laney was dropped, with New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick referencing that while drugs were found in Rigdon’s system, there was no way to identify or pinpoint which drugs or combination of them caused her death.

As time came for both prosecuting and defense lawyers to argue about a possible reduction, Fehrenbach referenced messages between Laney and Rigdon, pointing to Rigdon’s addiction to drugs and how she asked the defendant to pick them up. But Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick countered, saying that under the law Laney was not an accommodation as he benefited from the transaction.

“While he may not have received money, he did use the drug in the car with her and then got half of it as well,” Renick said, pointing to the defendant’s own testimony. “The law clearly defines that if somebody receives something in return, that is not an accommodation.”

After hearing both sides of the argument, the courtroom fell silent for 10 minutes as Judge B. Elliott Bondurant pondered his thoughts. When he looked up from finishing paperwork, he stared directly at the defendant.

“This was not an accommodation,” the judge bluntly said. “She paid for you to get the drugs and you did that.

“You call her your friend,” Bondurant continued. “As Mr. Renick said earlier, what type of friend would allow her to take drugs? You knew she was trying to get off the drugs but here you’re going to get them for her.”

The judge also pointed to the impact statement, referencing how one of Rigdon’s children found her body and the everlasting effects it will have on the child.

“I can’t even imagine what that’s like to find my mother dead,” the judge commented. “The child was already having issues before and after he found his mother in that state, they have only gotten worse.

“Her parents have already had to remove him from regular school,” Bondurant said as he began wrapping up his comments. “You knew what you were doing. You have had a history of doing this since you were 18 years old. You drove from Chesterfield to New Kent to bring her the drugs. That’s why this is not an accommodation, and you are guilty of the distribution.”

Laney received a 50-year prison sentence with 25 years suspended (25 years to serve).

In other circuit court case proceedings:

–Raymond Anfonzo Grimes, 31, of the 500 block of 13th Street, Newport News, will serve one year in jail after receiving formal sentencing on a single count of felony eluding of police.

Grimes entered a guilty plea during his April 26 trial. During that hearing, Grimes admitted that on June 20, 2020 that he fled the scene of a traffic stop on Route 60 (Pocahontas Trail) after providing a police officer false information. The chase continued eastward to Anderson’s Corner in James City County where Grimes attempted to bail on foot but was apprehended after a short pursuit.

The defendant received a five-year sentence with four years suspend (one year to serve).

–Aaron Dion Harrod, 23, of the 12000 block of Everest Park Lane, Woodbridge, entered a no contest plea to an amended charge of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia (originally possession of marijuana with intent to distribute). A no contest plea means that evidence presented in the trial would be enough to convict the defendant of the offense.

In a summary of evidence, on Dec. 11, 2019, a Virginia State Trooper noticed a black Impala weaving across the center lane of traffic on Interstate 64. After conducting a traffic stop, the driver, identified as Harrod, admitted to the officer that he had smoked marijuana earlier. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a joint in the cupholder of the vehicle.

Under the plea agreement, Harrod received a 12-month sentence with all time suspended. He must pay a $1,000 fine.

–Naim Quintin Muhammad, 59, of the 2900 block of Garland Avenue, Richmond, entered a guilty plea to one count of felony eluding of police as part of an agreement. One charge of a felony violation of pretrial conditions were dropped as part of the deal.

In a summary of evidence, on Feb. 24, 2020, a police officer noticed a vehicle parked on the side of the onramp at the Providence Forge exit facing eastbound to Interstate 64. When the officer approached the vehicle, he saw a smoking device as talks engaged with the driver. But before more information could be obtained, the vehicle fled the scene. A pursuit ensued with speeds reaching more than 110 miles per hour and the driver swerving in and out of traffic. After additional officers joined the chase, the vehicle was pulled over in a McDonald’s parking lot in a neighboring jurisdiction. The driver, now identified as Muhammad, was taken away and placed into custody.

Under the agreement, Muhammad received a five-year jail sentence with two years, eight months suspended (two years, four months to serve).