Mechanicsville man receives year in jail for hit and run in New Kent, kicking Virginia State Trooper

A Mechanicsville man who operated a vehicle under the influence and fled the scene of an accident in New Kent will spend a year in jail.

John Alexander Wells, 20, of the 9100 block of Minglewood Drive, entered guilty pleas to one count each of assault on a law enforcement officer, felony hit and run, misdemeanor driving under the influence after illegally consuming alcohol, and misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a Misdemeanor charges of obstruction of justice, providing a false identification to a law enforcement officer, and destruction of property were dropped as part of the agreement.

In a summary of evidence presented by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on Dec. 29, 2023, a Virginia State Trooper responded to the intersection of Old Church Road and Hopewell Road for an accident. Upon arriving and conducting an investigation, the trooper discovered the driver, later identified as Wells, had left the scene of the accident, leaving several people injured from the vehicle he was operating. Later, Wells returned to the scene and was questioned about the incident and if he was the driver of the vehicle. The defendant became agitated, trying to walk away from the officer before he turned around and kicked the officer twice. Wells was placed in handcuffs and an odor of alcohol was detected on him. The defendant admitted he had drank before operating the vehicle, with a blood-drawn test showing that he was nearly one-and-a-half times over the legal limit. Among those injured in the crash were at least two minors under the age of 18.

Under the agreement, Wells received a five-year sentence with four years suspended on the assault on a law enforcement officer conviction (one year to serve with six months being mandatory under state law). All 10 years on the felony hit and run were suspended, as well as all 12 months on both of the misdemeanor convictions. He must pay a total of $3,000 in fines, as well as $1,289 in restitution to account for injuries sustained by one of the minors in the accident.