DNA on cigarette butt leads to defendant accepting deal

A Richmond woman who discarded a cigarette butt on property that she burglarized, accepted a plea deal during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

Melissa Dawn Miffleton, 27, of the 2100 block of Oregon Avenue accepted a plea deal to one count of burglary. One count of petty larceny was dropped. In a summary of evidence, last August 9, Miffleton broke into the house of Laurie Dunston with an unidentified male and stole items. When the defendant left the scene, she flicked a cigarette butt out the window in the victim’s yard. Detectives recovered DNA evidence from the cigarette and traced it to Miffleton. She later confessed to the crime, saying she was the driver in the burglary.

Under the agreement, Miffleton will be evaluated for the detention and diversion program. If she fails to qualify for the program, she will serve an active sentence ranging from 15 months to 37 months. Formal sentencing is scheduled for the defendant in May.

In other Monday circuit court proceedings:

–Patrice A. Inge, 53, of the 3600 block of Hargrove Ave., Richmond, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of misdemeanor accessory after the fact to distribution of cocaine. One count of conspiracy to distribute was dropped.

In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, last Nov. 20 Inge and another co-defendant, Michael Anthony Winston, traveled to New Kent as part of a drug deal. Twin Rivers Task Force targeted Winston during the controlled buy of cocaine. While Inge was not involved directly in the transaction, she drove the vehicle to where the deal occurred. That factored into Gregory’s offering of the reduced charge in the plea deal.

Under the agreement, Inge received one year in jail, with all but eight months suspended. She must also pay $160 in restitution.

Inge is the second defendant to receive formal sentencing in circuit court. James Claude Whitehurst, 66, received a three-and-a-half year sentence on Apr. 2. Winston’s trial is scheduled for Apr. 28.

–Randolph Benjamin Berry Jr., 53, of the 2100 block of Hilliard Road, Richmond, accepted a plea agreement to two counts of obtaining money under false pretenses. Berry admitted that on two separate occasions between last Sept. 6-15, he made false promises to Cameron Watson and Kosal Sum, two former coworkers. The defendant offered to purchase household appliances at a reduced rate in exchange for cash. When the victims asked Berry about the items, he rendered excuses in an attempt to cover up the scam. After an investigation, he was taken into custody.

Under the plea agreement, Berry received a five year sentence, with one-and-a-half years of active time. He must also pay restitution in the amount of $2,836.