Briefly… for Mar. 20-Apr. 2, 2014
Alcohol considered a factor in crash
Authorities now say that alcohol could have contributed to the single-vehicle crash in Charles City County that claimed the lives of a father and son from New Kent County. State Police spokesman Sgt. Thomas Molnar says alcohol “is considered a factor,” but adds the investigation into the accident is continuing.
Around 3 a.m. on March 9, a 2004 Ford F-150 pickup truck ran off the right side of the road as the vehicle headed west on Route 5 (John Tyler Memorial Hwy.). The driver apparently overcorrected, causing the vehicle to swerve across the road and run off the left side before striking a tree and bursting into flames. Both occupants died at the scene.
Identity of the driver, Warren M. Lewis, 38, of the 9000 block of Old Church Road, New Kent, was released last Wednesday. Molnar said earlier this week that the state medical examiner’s office has officially identified the passenger as Jayme S. Street, 19, of the 14000 block of Pocahontas Trail, Lanexa, a 2012 graduate of New Kent High School and Lewis’ son. Both victims were wearing seat belts, Molnar said.
Three indicted in CC Circuit Court
A Charles City Circuit Court grand jury indicted three individuals during Mar. 4 afternoon proceedings:
–Jason McCoy Bell, 41, of the 4900 block of Shop Street, Chester, on one count of grand larceny. Bell allegedly stole a firearm belonging to David Bowling last July 11.
–Lisa Marie Groffel, 35, of the 3000 block of Barnetts Road, Providence Forge, on one count of assault and battery on a law enforcement officer. According to the indictment, last Oct. 2 Groffel assaulted Deputy V.N. Byrd as the officer engaged in public duties.
–Xavier Marquis Wallace, 20, of the 6100 block of Sturgeon Point Road, Charles City, on one count each of felony destruction of property and misdemeanor destruction of property. Last Oct. 15, Wallace allegedly destroyed property belonging to Rex Parker that totaled more than $1,000 in damage. Also on the same day, Wallace allegedly defaced property belonging to Cephas Cotman, with less than $1,000 in damage committed as a result.
Plea deals reached in NK court
Two men accepted plea deals in unrelated cases during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court:
–Kyle Douglas Slater, 20, of the 4800 block of Good Hope Road, Lanexa, entered a plea of guilty to an amended charge of being an accessory after the fact to grand larceny. Slater admitted that one of his friends transported two stolen golf carts to his home to hide them from authorities on June 23 of last year. Under the agreement, he received a one-year jail sentence with all but four days suspended. He must also pay $200 in restitution for damages to the golf carts.
–Jonathan Wade Southworth, 43, of the 6000 block of Pine Road, Quinton, pled guilty to one count of petty larceny (third offense). One count of shoplifting was dropped. According to a summary of evidence, last June 30 the defendant stole beer and a bottle of wine from a New Kent Food Lion to celebrate his birthday. Under the plea deal, he received a five-year jail sentence, with an active term of 13 months to serve.
New Kent suspects face drug charge
Two New Kent men each face a felony drug charge following a traffic stop conducted by a county deputy sheriff.
Nicholas David Schweickert, 19, of the 4000 block of Virginia Rail Drive, Providence Forge, and Joshua Adam Grey, 18, of the 7000 block of Leyland Cypress Lane, Quinton, are charged with one count each of possession with intent to distribute more than one-half ounce of marijuana.
Deputy Wyatt Johnston stopped the vehicle in which the two suspects were riding on North Courthouse Road (Route 155) near the Interstate 64 interchange on March 4. A sheriff’s office report said the deputy “was alerted to the possibility of narcotics being inside the vehicle.” During a search, Johnston found a number of individually wrapped plastic bags believed to contain marijuana along with digital scales and several unused bags.
The deputy arrested the suspects and transported the pair to Henrico Jail East where warrants were issued and bond for each was set at $2,000.
Richmond man arrested for drugs
A Richmond man has been arrested on multiple judge charges after a traffic stop in New Kent. Marcus Akeem Pryor, 25, of the 3000 block of Montrose Avenue, was arrested on Mar. 16 on one count each of possessions of a schedule I or II substance (prescription drugs), possession of a schedule IV controlled substance (“Molly” MDMA), and possession of marijuana.
According to the arrest report, Pryor was the passenger of a routine traffic stop. Police conducted an investigation to search for illegal narcotics and located the substances on the arrestee. Pryor was transported to Henrico Jail and was being held on a $1,000 secured bond.