Chase that initiated in New Kent and spanned three other localities results in Richmond man’s conviction

A Richmond man who initiated a chase in New Kent County that crossed into three other localities has entered guilty pleas to two charges following Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

Brent A. Worley, 37, of the 9500 block of Groundhog Drive, entered guilty pleas to one count each of felony eluding and misdemeanor reckless driving as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on May 31, a New Kent Sheriff’s deputy patrolling radar on Interstate 64 eastbound near mile marker 214 clocked a vehicle traveling 100 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone. The officer pulled out and attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle did not stop. The suspect left the interstate via exit 220 (West Point) and began traveling on Route 33 at speeds that reached 130 miles per hour. The chase traveled through New Kent, King William, King & Queen, and Gloucester before the suspect crashed into the median near the intersection of Route 33 and Route 17 in Gloucester. The suspect, identified later as Worley, attempted to flee on foot into the woods, but was quickly apprehended.

Under the plea agreement, Worley received a five-year sentence with four years, six months suspended (six months to serve) on the felony eluding conviction. He also received a six-month active sentence on the reckless driving conviction, bringing the total time to serve to one year. Worley must also pay $3,000 in fines.

In other circuit court matters:

–Andrew David Berkley, 32, of the 100 block of Berkley Town Road, Lanexa, entered guilty pleas to one count each of DWI (third or subsequent offense within five years) and misdemeanor driving after forfeiting his license as part of a plea agreement. One charge of misdemeanor refusing a breathalyzer test (second or subsequent offense) was dropped as part of the deal.

In a summary of evidence, on May 13, a trooper from the Virginia State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on North Courthouse Road (Route 155). When the officer arrived, he located the car and where it crashed but did not find the driver. After running the plate of the vehicle and getting information of the owner, the trooper drove down the street and located a possible suspect walking down the road. The suspect, later identified as Berkley, admitted that he was the one who was driving the vehicle. The officer noticed the suspect stumbling and saw signs of intoxication. The trooper conducted a field sobriety test on Berkley, who performed poorly. Berkley was arrested and additional information discovered during the investigation that Berkley’s license had been revoked for previous DWIs.

Under the agreement, Berkley received a five-year sentence with four years, six months suspended (six months to serve) on the DWI (third or subsequent offense) conviction. All 12 months on the misdemeanor driving after forfeiting his license were suspended, but he must pay a fine of $1,000 related to that conviction.

–Renard Louis Drake Jr., 26, of the 1000 block of New York Avenue, Glen Allen, pled guilty to a single count of forgery as part of a plea deal.

In a summary of evidence, on Oct. 26, 2019, a New Kent deputy noticed a car driving erratically as it left the Exxon parking lot at Chesapeake Circle. A traffic stop was initiated and when the officer approached the vehicle, he noticed that individuals had been smoking. One individual was interviewed by the officer, who provided the name as Cedric Harris and signed that name on a summons to appear in court as the officer noticed the individual was underage. When the officer appeared in court, the real Cedric Harris appeared, with the officer indicating that was not the person he’d issued the summons to. Harris told the officer that the individual who provided the name was Drake, who the officer researched in the DMV database and found a picture of the suspect that matched the individual he interacted with. Because Drake had signed a false name on the summons, he was charged with forgery.

Under the agreement, Drake received a 10-year sentence with all time suspended. He must also pay a fine of $1,000.

–Marcus Alexander Strickland, 28, of the 8800 block of Greenwood Boulevard, New Kent, entered a no contest plea to a single count of felony child abuse. A no contest plea indicates that evidence presented by the prosecution would be enough to convict the defendant of the offense.

In a summary of evidence, on Jan. 13, New Kent Sheriff’s Office received a call for service of a child wandering near Tunstall Road. After the child was located and taken into custody safely, an investigation revealed that Strickland had left the child unattended while he transported another child to school. The defendant told officers that he had just moved into the area and had taken the other child to the wrong school, throwing his projected timetable off and thought he’d be back sooner.

Under the agreement, no formal finding has been rendered as Strickland will entered into parenting classes and be placed on a year of supervision. If he successfully completes all requirements, the charge will be dismissed.

–Robert Eric Wilburn, 36, of the 1600 block of Outpost Road, Lanexa, pled guilty to a single count of possession of a Schedule I/II drug as part of a plea deal.

In a summary of evidence, on Sept. 4, 2024, a Virginia State trooper responded to a crash of Pocahontas Trail (Route 60). When the officer arrived to the scene, he found Wilburn as the only occupant of the vehicle. As the trooper investigated the crash, he saw a plastic baggie with a clear, powdery substance and crystal rock in the floor by the driver’s pedal. When the trooper asked Wilburn if all the contents inside the vehicle belonged to him, the defendant confirmed that they did. The officer arrested Wilburn for possessing the substance, which was sent to the forensics lab and confirmed to be cocaine.

Under the plea agreement, Wilburn received a five-year sentence with all but three months suspended. He must also pay a fine of $1,000.