Briefly… for Jan. 17-Jan. 30, 2013

Stolen car crashes on I-64 in NK

A Williamsburg woman, who police say was driving a car reportedly stolen in Newport News, is in custody and facing charges after she crashed the vehicle during a high-speed police chase Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 64 in New Kent County.

Shortly before 3 p.m., state police received a call of a suspicious vehicle on I-64 westbound at the 216 mile marker near the Providence Forge/Route 155 interchange. Upon arriving on scene, a trooper found the woman asleep behind the driver’s seat of a 2008 Nissan Versa. After awakening the woman, the trooper attempted to obtain information from her when she sped away from the scene.

The trooper pursued at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour before the vehicle crashed at the 205 mile marker near the Quinton/Bottom Bridge interchange. The vehicle ran off the left side of the roadway and overturned, coming to rest in the median.

The driver, identified as Ebony T. Perkins, 20, of the 100 block of Gray Gables, was taken into custody without further incident. She suffered minor injuries from the crash and was transported to VCU Medical Center. She was wearing a seat belt.

State police spokesman Sgt. Thomas Molnar said Perkins provided false identification to the trooper. Perkins is facing charges of felony assault on a police officer, grand larceny, and misdemeanor counts of identity theft, driving on a suspended license, and improper stopping on an interstate. Once released from the hospital, she will be held in Richmond city jail pending arraignment.

Scott named gun task force vice chair

Congressman Bobby Scott, who represents Charles City County in the U.S. House of Representatives, has been appointed as a vice chairman of a congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force by its chairman, Congressman Mike Thompson.

The task force was established by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi in wake of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn. to investigate what steps Congress can take now and in the future to reduce gun violence.

“I am honored to serve as a vice chair of this very important effort to review what Congress can do to reduce gun violence,” said Scott in a press release. “Obviously one single approach to ending gun violence will not be effective. What is needed is a comprehensive, evidence-based approach which will include gun safety, mental health, juvenile justice, and crime prevention initiatives. I look forward to working with Chairman Thompson and my colleagues on the taskforce on these issues in the 113th Congress.”

Raid nets five suspects from CC

Five suspects, all from Charles City County, face a variety of charges in the aftermath of a raid by tactical teams from the Twin Rivers Drug Task Force at a Henrico County address.

On Dec. 17, task force members, comprised of Charles City, New Kent, King William, West Point and Virginia State Police with assistance from Henrico police, conducted an investigation in the eastern section of Henrico with the purpose of locating Steven Lamont Brooks, 32, and Jonathan Mondale Crump, 41, both of the 6800 block of Courthouse Road.

Brooks was wanted for one count each of heroin distribution and probation violation while Crump was wanted for one count each of robbery, sexual assault and probation violation stemming from a drug investigation in Charles City.

As a result of the raid, five individuals, including Brooks and Crump, were arrested at an address on Hibiscus Drive in Henrico. Also arrested were Elizabeth Marshburn, 21, of the 2900 block of Adkins Road, and Zachary Russell, 21, of 12700 block of Sterling Heights Lane, on one count each of heroin possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, and Tiffany Evans, 27, of the 12700 block of Sterling Heights Lane, on outstanding warrants for larceny from New Kent. Additional charges are expected to be filed against Brooks, Crump and Russell in Charles City, said Capt. Jayson Crawley. More arrests are anticipated.

CC, NK boards elect new leaders

Board reorganizations for supervisors and school boards have been held in New Kent and Charles City counties for the 2013 calendar year.

In Charles City, District 3 supervisor Floyd Miles Sr. was elected chairman and District 2 supervisor Bill Coada was elected vice-chairman. In New Kent, District 5 supervisor Ray Davis assumes the role of chairman, replacing James Burrell. District 1 supervisor Thomas Evelyn is tasked with the duties of vice-chairman.

For Charles City’s school board, Barbara Crawley received the nod as chairwoman. At large member Preston Adkins occupies the position of vice-chairman. In New Kent, District 3 school board member Leigh Quick received the nod as chairwoman. She will be assisted by District 4 member Sarah Grier Barber, who carries the title of vice-chairwoman.

CC supervisors planning for budget

Charles City’s Board of Supervisors is taking the first steps toward preparing for its fiscal 2013-14 budget.

Board members sat through seven hours of presentations from various county department heads during a work session on Jan. 9. One thing evident in the presentations was that most departments are asking for slight increases for their budgets. Most areas for budget increase focused on fuel (projected by departments for a five percent increase), office supplies, and upgrades for computer software.

Supervisors also set tentative quarterly work session dates. The sessions will be the first Wednesday of every quarter, starting with March 6. Other dates are June 5, Sept. 4, and Dec. 4. Each session begins at 6 p.m.

NK man charged with sex crime

A New Kent County man faces a felony sex charge after an alleged encounter with a county woman he met on-line.

Joseph William Binns, 23, of the 7000 block of Longview Drive, Quinton, is being held in jail without bond on a charge of forcible sodomy. New Kent sheriff’s investigators say Binns arranged to meet the woman at her home after the two exchanged messages on a social networking site. The meeting took place on Dec. 31 at which time he allegedly forced her to perform oral sex. Deputy Wyatt Johnston arrested Binns on Jan. 4.

Background check derails defendant

A background check on a Maryland man attempting to qualify for being sentenced to the state Department of Corrections’ Detention and Diversion Program has hit a major snag in New Kent Circuit Court.

Juan Miguel Paz, 40, (address unlisted), failed to qualify for the program because of a prior criminal record in Maryland. Probation officer Jeff Seeley told the court on Jan. 7 that an earlier background report on Paz did not display a previous criminal history. Seeley found the information when he researched Paz’s background as a requirement for qualifications to be enrolled in the Detention and Diversion program.

With the change, Paz may face a longer sentence. State sentencing guidelines reported at his trial on Dec. 17, when he pleaded guilty on two counts of cocaine distribution, ranged from nine months to one and a half years of incarceration. Now, Paz is facing a minimum of six years to a high end of nine years, 11 months.

Judge Thomas B. Hoover elected to continue the matter to Feb. 25 to allow Paz’s defense counsel to decide if the defendant wants to challenge the sentencing guidelines or opt for a new trial.

Plea deal reached in marijuana case

A Poquoson man will be placed on first offender status after accepting a plea deal from the Commonwealth. Kory Austin Gill-Mash, 22, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana and misdemeanor reckless driving during a New Kent Circuit Court trial on Monday.

In a summary of evidence, Gill-Mash was pulled over by a state trooper on Interstate 64 last Sept. 9 during a routine traffic stop. Upon interviewing Gill-Mash, the trooper detected the aroma of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Gill-Mash admitted he had a small box behind the passenger’s seat in the console floor containing the substance, along with a smoking device.

Under the agreement, Gill-Mash will have to complete all rehabilitation programs as described under first offender status guidelines. For the reckless driving charge, his license was revoked and he has to pay a $350 fine.

NK break-ins under investigation

New Kent sheriff’s personnel are investigating an early morning break-in at a county convenience store and a pair of daytime burglaries at local residences.

The Exxon convenience store located at 2445 New Kent Highway near Quinton became a target on Jan. 7. Once inside the store, burglars stole money from the store’s safe as well as an ATM along with other merchandise.

Thieves entered houses on Stage Road and Pine Fork Road on Jan. 9 and 10, taking electronics, jewelry, and cash.

Anyone with information about either crime should call the sheriff’s office at 966-9500 or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000. The sheriff’s office is also asking area residents to report any suspicious activity.

Supervisors change work session time

New Kent’s Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a time change for all scheduled work sessions for the 2013 calendar year.

Work sessions will now begin at 9 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. District 4 supervisor Ron Stiers made the proposal after commenting that many county workers are just arriving or settling into their respective offices around 8:30. He continued by saying that he believes the extra 30 minutes will be enough time for departments to adequately have information prepared for the work sessions.

Work sessions are scheduled for the last Wednesday of every month unless noted. This month’s work session date was moved up to Jan. 28 from Jan. 30 due to conflicts. All work session and regular meetings dates can be found on the county government website.

CC domestic dispute ends in arrest

A Charles City County man faces several charges including one felony in the aftermath of a domestic dispute. On Jan. 6, county deputies responded to an address on Kimages Road. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with the victim who had to be treated by the rescue squad as a result of her injuries.

As a result of the incident, Kasem Hunt, 32, of the 8900 block of Kimages Road, was arrested and charged with one count each of felony child neglect and misdemeanor domestic assault and battery along with two counts of misdemeanor brandishing a firearm. He was being held in Riverside Regional Jail without bond pending arraignment.

Correction

In a front page story in the Jan. 3 edition concerning no charges being placed against a Charles City County animal control officer, the King William commonwealth’s attorney was incorrectly identified. His name is Matthew Kite.