Manassas woman receives year in jail for lying under oath in New Kent

A Manassas woman will spend a year in jail for lying under oath in relation to a drug charge.

Lilyana Elyzabeth Ardon, 20, of the 8300 block of Yorkshire Lane, entered guilty pleas to one count each of perjury and selling a Schedule I/II drug as part of a plea agreement reached Monday in New Kent Circuit Court. One additional charge of uttering was dropped as part of the plea deal.

In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on July 13, 2024, a New Kent Sheriff’s Office deputy executed a traffic stop on a vehicle where Ardon was the passenger. The officer received information that the driver had an active warrant, leading to the driver’s arrest and an inspection of the vehicle. The officer conducted an inspection of the car and found illegal items that included needles and other substances related to Fentanyl where Ardon was seated. Ardon was arrested, and when she was taken into custody and sworn under oath, she gave a false name to her identity, resulting in the perjury charge.

Under the agreement, Ardon received a five-year jail sentence with four years suspended (one year to serve) on the perjury conviction. All 10 years on the selling of a Schedule I/II drug were suspended.

In other circuit court matters:

–Timothy Michael English, 35, of the 11400 block of Greenyard Estates, Providence Forge, was formally found guilty on possession of a Schedule I/II drug. During an April 2024 trial, English entered into a plea agreement where he admitted that he was in possession of methamphetamine on Sept. 22, 2023. English was placed into the First Offender Program as part of the deal, but failed to complete the requirements, resulting in the aforementioned conviction.

English received a five-year sentence with all time suspended on the possession of a Schedule I/II drug conviction. The defendant also received a three-year jail sentence with two years, six months suspended (six months to serve) for failing to appear for his court case on May 5.

–David Edward Jeffrey, of Lanexa, pled guilty to a single count of failing to register as a sex offender as part of an agreement. An additional charge of failing to register as a sex offender was dropped as part of the plea deal.

In a summary of evidence, in June 2024, Jeffrey had failed to notify the register’s office of his new address. The law required the defendant to contact the office of any changes in residency.

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

–Ronald L. Mitchell, 71, of the 4200 block of Enslow Avenue, Richmond, entered Alford Pleas of Guilt to one charge each of possession of a Schedule I/II drug and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated (first offense). An Alford Plea of Guilt indicates that while the defendant maintains his innocence, evidence presented in the trial would be enough to convict him of the offense.

In a summary of evidence, on Aug. 12, 2024, a New Kent deputy responded to a call for service of a possible vehicle stranded on the shoulder of Pocahontas Trail. When the officer arrived, they noticed a vehicle sitting on the side of the road with the driver, later identified as Mitchell, sleep in the driver’s seat. The deputy woke up Mitchell and noticed signs of intoxication. A field sobriety test was conducted, with the defendant performing poorly on it. Mitchell was arrested and a search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a lottery ticket with a white, powdery substance on it. That substance was sent to the forensics lab and later identified as heroin. Mitchell’s blood sample was also sent out for testing, with results showing his blood level was above the legal limit for intoxication.

Under the agreement, Mitchell received a 10-year sentence with nine years, nine months suspended (three months to serve) for possessing heroin. All 12 months on the DWI conviction were suspended, but he must pay a fine of $1,000.

–Anthony Francis Velella, 48, of the 7400 block of Lakeshore Drive, Quinton, entered a guilty plea to a single count of possession of a Schedule I/II drug as part of a plea deal.

In a summary of evidence, on Nov. 13, 2024, the defendant was pulled over during a traffic stop. The defendant had been arrested earlier in the year on a felony eluding charge, leading the officer to have probable cause to search the vehicle as part of the defendant’s pretrial conditions. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of heroin, leading to Velella’s arrest.

Under the agreement, Velella received a five-year sentence with all time suspended.