Woman accepts plea deal on embezzlement charges

A Richmond woman accepted a plea deal to seven counts of embezzlement during New Kent Circuit Court proceedings last Monday.

Marleen Lewis Espada, 48, of 2406 Caddie Lane, admitted she stole money from August 2012 to February of this year.

In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, Espada embezzled $16,305.63 from Rick’s Local Deli, where she worked. While helping customers, Espada would make a sale and then void the transaction and pocket the money. An investigation ensued after funds were determined missing with results revealing that Espada had more than 50 voided sales per month, while other clerks had two or three.

Under the agreement, Espada received an active sentence of six months to serve on the first embezzlement charge. She received 10 years of suspended time on the remaining six charges. She must also pay $16,305.63 in restitution.

In an unrelated case, Shawn Allen Olsen, 34, of 50 Dwight Court, Martinsburg, West Virginia, accepted a plea deal to felony eluding police, misdemeanor DUI (2nd offense), and a reduced charge of misdemeanor assault and battery.

In a summary of evidence, Olsen was driving eastbound on Interstate 64 on May 1 when he struck a DirecTV van driven by Dewon Gordon. The van struck a tree, resulting in injuries to Gordon. Olsen would use the emergency vehicle turnoff and travel westbound and park in the Chesapeake Circle area where he was later apprehended.

Judge Thomas B. Hoover questioned Gregory about the reduced charge of assault and battery (originally DUI maiming).

“The acts he did were aggravated,” said the judge. “He lied to police, he was intoxicated, and he almost killed someone.”

Gregory said because Gordon didn’t suffer any injury that disabled him, the charges were reduced.

“I don’t like it,” commented Hoover. “The facts prove this was aggravated. The court reluctantly accepts the agreement.”

In another case, a New Kent man learned his fate after being convicted in May on multiple charges.

Robert Austin Payne, 19, of 11478 Oakrise Road, will serve one year, four months active time in jail for burglary after he stole jewelry from his stepfather, Scott Gala. Ten years were suspended on a grand larceny charge and one year was suspended on a petty larceny charge.