Stealing money from piggy bank lands Quinton man in jail for four months

The old saying is that taking something that doesn’t belong to you is like stealing candy from a baby. But for one Quinton resident, he literally stole money from a child’s piggy bank and admitted to it in Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

Robert Earl Curlis Jr., 34, entered a guilty plea to misdemeanor petty larceny as part of an agreement reached in the morning trial. One charge of breaking and entering was dropped as part of the agreement.

In a summary of evidence, Michele and Ashley Doggett contacted the police about missing money that was taken on Apr. 6. An investigation followed, with officers receiving information that Curlis had been inside of the residence on Ridge Road several times. An investigating officer discovered a piggy bank broken into with approximately $400 in currency gone from it. When pieces of the piggy bank were sent to the forensics lab, a fingerprint on one of the pieces linked Curlis to the crime. He was arrested, with Commonwealth Attorney Scott Renick telling the court that the defendant has had issues with drug addiction and believes that’s why he took the money.

Under the agreement, Curlis received a 12-month sentence with eight months suspended (four months to serve) on the conviction. He must also pay the $400 in restitution.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–Rahmaine Malik Ahmad Austin, 21, of the 3000 block of MaCallan Parkway, Richmond, entered a no contest plea to a single count of felony eluding of police. A no contest plea indicates that evidence presented in the trial would be sufficient enough to convict the defendant of the crime. One charge each of misdemeanor reckless driving and misdemeanor not having a driver’s license were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, a Virginia State Trooper was monitoring traffic at the intersection of Route 60 (Pocahontas Trail) and Waterside Drive when he noticed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed traveling westbound on Route 60. The officer was able to get a reading of 75 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone and caught up to the vehicle, activating his emergency equipment. But the vehicle accelerated away form the police officer’s car, reaching speeds at 140 miles per hour and flying through the intersection of Pocahontas Trail and Courthouse Road (Route 155) at 100 miles per hour. The defendant slowed and pulled to a stop after passing through the intersection and was arrested on the charge.

Under the agreement, Austin received a five-year jail sentence with four years, 10 months suspended (two months to serve).

–Joshua Henry Brockwell, 30, of the 7900 block of N. Henpeck Road, Quinton, entered guilty plea to amended charges of misdemeanor eluding of police (originally felony eluding of police) and misdemeanor obstruction of justice (originally misdemeanor reckless driving) as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on April 30, New Kent Sheriff J. Joe McLaughlin Jr. witnessed a dune buggy driving on the public road. After pulling over the driver and having a conversation, the sheriff walked back to his vehicle to obtain more information on the driver. The dune buggy took off from the scene, but the sheriff had already obtained information on the address of the driver, now identified as Brockwell. After driving to Brockwell’s home and knocking on the door for several minutes, Brockwell emerged and turned himself in.

Under the plea agreement, he received a six-month sentence with all but five days suspended on the misdemeanor eluding charge. All six months on the misdemeanor obstruction of justice charge were suspended.

–Travis Lamar Harvey, 37, of the 300 block of N. Juniper Avenue, Highland Springs, entered a guilty plea to a lone count of distribution of a Schedule I/II drug.

In a summary of evidence, a New Kent deputy was at the Star Motel when he noticed the defendant, Harvey, standing outside the hotel. With knowledge that Harvey had a warrant for his arrest out of Williamsburg, the officer approached Harvey to make the arrest. When the defendant saw the officer, he tossed a bag under a nearby vehicle. The officer was able to see inside the bag prior to opening it some plastic bags along with a substance. After arresting Harvey on the warrant, the officer checked the bag, discovering $208 in cash and one ounce of cocaine. The defendant was arrested on the distribution charge based on the evidence gathered at the scene.

Under the plea deal, Harvey received a 25-year jail sentence with 23 years (two years to serve).

–Reagon Richard Wright, 42, of West Point, entered Alford Pleas of Guilt to two amended charges of misdemeanor assault and battery (originally sodomy) as part of a plea deal. An Alford Plea indicates that while the defendant maintains their innocence, evidence presented in the trial would be enough to convict them of the offense. One charge of abduction and misdemeanor assault and battery were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, a New Kent Deputy received information in January 2022 about a possible assault during May and June of 2021. The New Kent deputy received information and investigated to the point where they were able to identify Wright as the perpetrator of the crimes. According to the victim, the defendant had touched them in inappropriate places and assaulted them. Wright was arrested on the crimes.

Under the plea agreement, Wright received a 12-month sentence with 10 months suspended (two months to serve) on the first count of misdemeanor assault and battery. He must also undergo mental health treatment as assigned by Henrico’s Mental Health Services. All 12 months on the second misdemeanor assault and battery charges were suspended.