Richmond man receives year in jail for leading New Kent deputy in chase

A Richmond man will spend a year in jail for eluding police after receiving formal sentencing Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court.

Sho’Mari Sosa Middleton, 23, of the 9000 block W. Cloisters, learned of his imprisonment time on his lone charge.

During a Feb. 13 contested trial, Middleton pleaded not guilty to the charge. At that trial, evidence presented by New Kent Commonwealth Attorney Scott Renick showed that on July 1, 2022, the defendant was clocked going 70 miles per hour in a posted 55-miles per hour zone. When the New Kent Sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull the vehicle over, it accelerated eastbound on Route 60 (Pocahontas Trail), speeding through Providence Forge.

The vehicle made a right onto Route 155 (Courthouse Road), heading south into Charles City. The vehicle turned left onto Sturgeon Point Road before it stopped in a residence. From there, the officer was able to order the driver out the car and identified Middleton as the driver.

Middleton defended himself, saying that he didn’t want to stop when he saw the sirens because he wanted to go to a safe area. However, Renick questioned the defendant why he didn’t stop in Providence Forge, where several businesses were located. The defendant said he didn’t know the places, but Judge B. Elliott Bondurant agreed, saying the defendant had ample opportunities to stop his vehicle.

During sentencing, Middleton read from his notepad, saying that he was sorry for his actions and that he accepted responsibility for his actions after reviewing footage of the pursuit. However, the judge questioned the defendant’s sincerity in his letter.

“You say you accept responsibility, but if you did, you would have pled guilty,” Bondurant said. “I understand how you feel, but you not only put other people’s lives in danger, you put yourself in danger as well.”

Bondurant sentenced Middleton to three years in jail with two years suspended (one year to serve).

In another case, a Warrenton woman entered a guilty plea to possession of a Schedule I/II drug.

Amanda Lynn Ros, 40, pled guilty to possessing cocaine as part of a plea agreement. One count each of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor obstruction of justice were dropped as part of the deal.

In a summary of evidence, on Dec. 20, 2021, a New Kent deputy received a be-on-the-lookout for an individual that had a warrant issued against them and was wanted. A deputy spotted a vehicle matching one that the driver was known to operate at the Pilot Travel Center. After ordering the suspect out of the vehicle and identifying them as Ros, a search of the vehicle yielded a glass pipe with white residue. A forensics lab report indicated that the substance was cocaine.

Under the agreement, Ros received a five-year sentence with all time suspended on the conviction.