New Kent Charles City Chronicle

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

Chase of 137 miles-per-hour in New Kent leads to four months of incarceration for Henrico man

By Andre Jones | April 18, 2022 9:28 pm

A Henrico man who led a New Kent deputy on a high-speed chase for more than 20 miles will spend the next four months in prison.

Kenneth Blad Espinoza Hernandez, 21, of the 5700 block of Trafalgar Park, received his formal sentence during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

During a Feb. 15 trial, Hernandez entered guilty pleas to felony eluding and an amended charge of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor (originally felony child abuse) as part of a plea agreement. At that trial, evidence was presented that showed that on Aug. 26, 2021 in the early morning hours, a New Kent deputy was patrolling Interstate 64 eastbound at mile marker 213 when a vehicle entered the radar at 108 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone. When the officer attempted to pull over the vehicle, the driver accelerated, leading to a pursuit where speeds reached as high as 137 miles per hour. Eventually, the driver pulled over at the 234-mile marker in James City County without incident. When the officer approached the vehicle, it was discovered that a juvenile was inside the car. The driver, later identified by Hernandez, was arrested for the offense.

Hernandez received a five-year sentence with four years, eight months suspended on the felony eluding charge. All 12 months on the contributing to the delinquency of a minor were suspended. He also had all 90 days suspended on a new charge and conviction for violating the conditions of pretrial prior to his court date.

In other circuit court cases:

–Heather Rachel Bushman, 25, of Gloucester, entered a guilty plea to a single count of attempting to deliver drugs to a prisoner.

In a summary of evidence, Bushman was in communication with another prisoner while incarcerated at Henrico Jail East. Bushman had agreed to get suboxone to the other inmate. When authorities discovered the plan, they intercepted a letter on July 14, 2021, that Bushman had tried to send to the inmate. The letter contained the illegal substance and Bushman received the new charge.

Bushman received a five-year sentence on the conviction with all time suspended.

–Michael Lee Jones, 40, of the 13000 block of Matthews West Drive, Centreville, entered straight guilty pleas to two counts of extortion by writing.

In a summary of evidence, on Oct. 13, 2021, Jones wrote text messages to the victim who lived in New Kent. Jones threatened to kill the victim and sent messages that included “count your days.” The following morning, the defendant sent additional messages to the victim, including one that said, “I will put an end to all of this.” The victim went to the authorities and Jones was arrested on the threats.

A presentence report is being prepared in the case with formal sentencing expected to take place on June 13.