Richmond man receives year in jail for distributing marijuana in New Kent

A Richmond man will spend one year in jail for possession and distributing marijuana in New Kent County.

David Kenneth Eaton Jr., 34, received formal sentencing on the offense as part of Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

During a Nov. 7, 2022 trial, Eaton entered into an agreement and pled guilty to distributing more than one-half ounce but less than five pounds of marijuana. At that trial, a summary of evidence showed that on Feb. 11, 2022, a Virginia State Trooper operating radar clacked a black Kia Optima traveling 99 miles per hour in a 70-miles per hour zone. A traffic stop was initiated, and the driver was questioned. The officer noticed two roaches in the center console and asked who they belonged to. The passenger, later identified as Eaton, said that they were his and that there were additional items in the backpack that belonged to him in the backseat. A search of the bag yielded a green plant-like material, plastic bags, two scales, and $3,206 in cash. Eaton was arrested and charged with the distribution charge.

Eaton received a five-year sentence with four years suspended (one year to serve) during his formal sentencing stage.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–Steven James Cox, 37, of Gordonsville, entered a no contest plea to an amended charge of misdemeanor receiving advance pay for construction (originally failure to perform construction) as part of a plea agreement. A no contest plea indicates that evidence presented during the trial would be enough to convict the defendant of the offense.

In a summary of evidence, from May 17, 2021, to Dec. 30, 2021, Tyree Edwards had entered into a contract with Cox to have roofing replaced on his home. Edwards paid Cox $3,589.85 to get materials for the work. After receiving the check, Cox failed to perform services and Edwards cancelled the contract.

Cox received a 12-month sentence with 10 months suspended (two months to serve). All restitution has been paid which led to the originally charge being reduced.

–Garrido Fredy Flores, 20, of the 6800 block of N. Strathmore Road, Richmond, entered guilty pleas to one count each of felony eluding of police, felony child abuse, and misdemeanor reckless driving as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on June 5, 2022, a New Kent Sheriff’s Office deputy was patrolling at mile marker 220 on Interstate 64 when a black Dodge Charger entered their radar at 89 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone. When the officer tried to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle accelerated faster, reaching speeds of 135 miles per hour. Other officers were able to stage a roadblock at mile marker 208, bringing the pursuit to a halt. When officers approached the driver, later identified as Flores, they saw a juvenile in the vehicle as a passenger.

Flores received a five-year sentence with four years, six months suspended on the felony eluding of police conviction (six months to serve). All five years on the felony child abuse and all 12 months on the misdemeanor reckless driving charge were suspended.

–Christopher Lloyd Fritter, 28, of 8 Betsy Ross Drive, Ruther Glen, entered a guilty plea to one count each of felony eluding of police and misdemeanor reckless driving as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on Sept. 28, 2022, a Virginia State Trooper was monitoring westboudn traffic at the 204-mile marker when a motorcycle entered their radar at 100 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone. The officer attempted to execute a traffic stop and when it seemed like the driver was slowing down, they accelerated, initiating the chase. Other troopers joined the pursui that went through Henrico and Hanover County, before the driver crashed while trying to exit on Creighton Road in the western part of Henrico County. The operator, identified as Fritter, was arrested.

Fritter received a five-year sentence with four years suspended (one year to serve) on the felony eluding conviction. All 12 months on the misdemeanor reckless driving conviction were suspended.

–Stephen F. Im, 37, of the 900 block of N. Main Street, Suffolk, received formal sentencing on one count each of possession of a Schedule I/II drug and felony failure to appear.

During a Nov. 14, 2022 trial, Im entered guilty pleas to the offenses. At that trial, evidence presented revealed that on Dec. 18, 2021, a Virginia State Trooper was monitoring traffic westbound on Interstate 64 when they noticed a vehicle speeding near the 211-mile marker. When the officer made contact with the driver, they noticed signs of impairment. The officer conducted a field sobriety test on the driver, now identified as Im. The defendant failed the test and was taken into custody. A subsequent inspection of the vehicle led to the discovery of a needle with a white substance in the center console. Laboratory tests confirmed that the substance was methamphetamine.

Im received a five-year sentence with four years, nine months suspended (three months to serve) on the possession of an illegal drug conviction. He also received an additional three months to serve for failing to appear on his original court date on May 23, 2022.

–Scott Lingo, 40, of the 600 block of Lewis Street, Fredericksburg, entered a plea agreement and pled guilty to an amended charge of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor (originally felony child abuse) and misdemeanor DUI (first offense).

In a summary of evidence, on July 23, 2022, a New Kent deputy observed a SUV parked on the onramp to Interstate 64 just off of Route 155 (Courthouse Road) that was running. When the officer approached, they saw a child in the back seat and knocked on the window to awake the driver. Upon the window rolling down, the deputy observed signs of intoxication and the defendant was arrested. When the officer asked the defendant if anybody else was in the car, they replied “no”, although the officer had already seen the juvenile.

Under the agreement, Lingo received a 12-month sentence with 11 months suspended (one month to serve) along with a $1,000 fine on the misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor conviction. He received a 12-month sentence with all time suspended on the misdemeanor DUI (first offense) charge, but must pay a $500 fine on that conviction.

–Angela Marie Prater, 41, of the 3000 block of West Grace Street, Richmond, entered a guilty plea to a single count of possession of a Schedule I/II drug as part of a deal.

In a summary of evidence, on Oct. 4, 2022, a New Kent deputy was on routine patrol at the intersection of Route 60 (Pocahontas Trail) and Route 249 (New Kent Highway) when they noticed a Black Sedan pull out of a gas station with no license plate. A traffic stop was initiated and after approaching the vehicle, the officer noticed a pill bottle on the seat. The driver, now identified as Prater, was asked by the officer if they had any drugs in the vehicle. Prater nodded in affirmation and a search yielded a substance, later identified as Fentanyl.

Prater received a five-year sentence with all time suspended on the possession charge.