New Kent Charles City Chronicle

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

Yorktown teenager indicted on involuntary manslaughter charge by New Kent grand jury

By Andre Jones | May 16, 2022 10:28 pm

Jahreese Watson-Ricks

A teenager who allegedly led a chase through New Kent County during the early morning hours on Oct. 24, 2021, has been formally indicted on an involuntary manslaughter charge.

Jahreese Ray’sea Watson-Ricks, 19, of the 500 block of Arabian Circle, Yorktown, was indicted on one charge each of involuntary manslaughter, destruction of property, and felony eluding of police.

In a Oct. 2021 press release, around 12:53 a.m. a trooper observed a white Infiniti sedan traveling 100 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone at mile marker 211 eastbound on Interstate 64 in New Kent. After noticing the vehicle traveling on the shoulder of the road, the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop. However, the driver fled and continued to flee, using exit 227 in James City County as an escape route.

The pursuit continued westbound on Route 249 (New Kent Highway) before the Infinity ran off the right side of the roadway, reentered the highway and ran off the left side, striking trees. The vehicle subsequently caught fire.

The driver, identified as Watson-Ricks, attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly located. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

A passenger in the car was transported for treatment with a life-threatening injury. Unfortunately, the 17-year old female, identified as Rony’A Antoinette Belscher, succumbed to her injuries on Oct. 25.

Watson-Ricks is scheduled to appear in court in August.

In other indictments certified by the grand jury:

–John Lewis Aston, 34, of the 16000 block of New Kent Highway, Lanexa, on one count each of assault and battery of a family member (third offense) and misdemeanor damaging a phone line. The offenses allegedly occurred on Feb. 6.

–Elijah Muhammad Brown, 29, of the 1200 block of East Main Street, Richmond, on a single charge of felony eluding of police. The offense allegedly took place on Jan. 13.

–Janet Simmons Deal, 50, of the 900 block of Thompson Avenue, West Point, on one count of possession of a weapon (not gun) by a convicted felon. Deal allegedly possessed a stun gun on Feb. 3.

–Humberto Gonzales, 47, of the 700 block of W. 27th Street, Norfolk, on four counts of violating a protective order while having a weapon and one count of possessing a firearm while subject to a protective order. Gonzales allegedly committed the offenses on Feb. 11.

–Cassandra Aleice Grammer, 26, of the 9200 block of Deerlake Drive, New Kent, on one charge each of embezzlement and grand larceny. Grammar allegedly stole lottery tickets from Rick’s Stop and Shop on Oct. 18, 2021 while she was employed there.

–Stephen F. Im, 37, of the 900 block of N. Main Street, Suffolk, on one count of possession of a Schedule I/II substance. The defendant allegedly possessed methamphetamine on Dec. 18, 2021.

–Jeffery Allen Lewis Sr., 58, of the 10000 block of Mt. Prospect Road, New Kent, on one count of strangulation, one count of misdemeanor assault and battery, and three counts of misdemeanor violating a protective order. The offenses allegedly took place on Nov. 27, 2021.

–Shane Wescott Matthews, 33, of the 3400 block of Tealwood Court, Quinton, on a lone charge of possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense allegedly took place on Jan. 13, 2014.

–Allison Erica Weagley, 32, of the 13000 block of Cypress Drive, Lanexa, on one count each of possession of a Schedule I/II drug and misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs. Weagley allegedly operated a vehicle while using methamphetamine on Oct. 22, 2021.