Glen Allen man receives five months in jail for attempted aggravated sexual battery in New Kent

A Glen Allen man will spend the next five months in jail after pleading guilty to attempted aggravated sexual battery.

Jason E. Crawford, 45, entered a guilty plea to one count of the amended offense (originally aggravated sexual battery) as part of a plea agreement reached Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court. One count of aggravated sexual battery was dropped. When Judge B. Elliott Bondurant questioned why the plea deal was made, Commonwealth Attorney Scott Renick commented that it was to not traumatize the victim by having them testify.

In a summary of evidence, New Kent Sheriff’s Office received information about the possibility of a man attempting to touch his victim in unwanted places. From that investigation, Crawford was identified as a suspect. When police interviewed Crawford, the defendant confessed that throughout the year 2020, he interacted with the victim by groping them and humping them. Based on his confession and evidence, Crawford was taken into custody.

Under the plea agreement, the defendant received a 10-year sentence with nine years, seven months suspended (five months to serve).

In other circuit court cases:

–Tra’juan Antwon Bates, 23, of the 300 block of Pleasant Lane, Petersburg, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of misdemeanor possession of marijuana with intent to distribute (less than one-half ounce) as part of an agreement (originally charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute greater than one-half ounce and less than five pounds).

In a summary of evidence, on May 8, 2021, investigators received information that Bates was in New Kent and had items related to selling the substance. Officers were able to locate the defendant, arresting him. The weight of the marijuana was less than half an ounce, resulting in the amended charge.

Under the agreement, Bates received a 12-month sentence with all but one month suspended on the conviction. He must also serve six days in jail for failing to appear for an earlier court date.

–Deshawn Terrell Jones, 39, of the 1500 block of Hilton Street Norfolk, entered no contest pleas to an amended charge of misdemeanor possession of a concealed weapon (originally possession of a firearm by a nonviolent felon) and failing to obey a highway sign. No contest pleas indicate that evidence presented in the trial would be enough to convict the defendant of the offenses.

In a summary of evidence, on July 3, 2021, a Virginia State Trooper was traveling on Interstate 64 eastbound when he encountered a vehicle traveling in the left lane slowly. After the officer initiated a traffic stop, a background check on the driver, now identified as Jones, revealed he had warrants for his arrest. After the defendant was placed into custody, a search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a pistol in the center console. According to Renick, there was no information about who the owner of the vehicle was at the time.

Jones received a 12-month sentence with all time suspended on the misdemeanor conviction. He must pay a $50 fine for his traffic infraction.

–Tracy Lee Neves, 49, of 4 Ansell Avenue, Fredericksburg, entered guilty pleas to one count each of grand theft auto, an amended charge of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia (originally possession of a Schedule I/II substance), misdemeanor fleeing from police, and misdemeanor providing a false identification to a law enforcement officer as part of a plea deal.

In a summary of evidence, on May 10, 2021, a Virginia State Trooper was patrolling traffic at 8:15 a.m. in the morning on Interstate 64 when a vehicle entered his radar beam at 89 miles per hour in a 70 miles per hour posted zone. The trooper initiated a traffic stop near the 209-mile marker in New Kent, with a second officer joining in. When the driver did not have any identification available, the trooper wrote down a name provided to him and received consent to search the vehicle. As the officer began his search, the driver took off into the woods.

Later that day, New Kent Sheriff’s Office received information of a stolen pick-up truck from the area. It was determined that the vehicle was taken from Cole Faison, whose residence was approximately 600 yards from where the initial traffic stop took place. A search of the area was conducted, and the defendant was located in Henrico and arrested. A fingerprint test revealed the identity of the defendant, Neves, and a search of the original vehicle he occupied resulted in a discovery of drug paraphernalia near his steering wheel.

Under the agreement, Neves received a 10-year sentence with nine years, eight months suspended (four months to serve) on the grand theft auto conviction. All 12 months on each of the three misdemeanor convictions were suspended.