Williamsburg man receives two-month sentence for initiating high-speed chase in New Kent

A Williamsburg man will spend two months in jail for destroying property while on a high-speed chase in New Kent.

Lenny Daniel Salas, 21, of the 1400 block of Rustard Circle, entered guilty pleas to one count each of destruction of property, felony eluding of police, and misdemeanor reckless driving as part of Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renic, on March 12, a New Kent deputy was monitoring traffic eastbound Interstate 64 traffic at mile marker 211 when a dark color vehicle entered the radar traveling 116 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone. The deputy was able to catch up with the vehicle and activated their traffic lights, but the suspect refused to pull over. The chase lasted for approximately 12 miles before the suspect’s vehicle struck another one before crashing into some guard wire and knocked it down. The driver, identified as Salas, was taken into custody for the offenses.

Salas received a five-year sentence with all but one month suspended on the destruction of property conviction. He also received a 12-month sentence on the misdemeanor reckless driving conviction, with all but one month suspended. All five years on the felony eluding conviction were suspended, but the defendant must pay a total of $3,000 in fines.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–David Alan Duckett, 59, of West Point, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of misdemeanor reckless handling of a firearm (originally felony shooting into an occupied building).

In a summary of evidence, on Dec. 15, 2023, a New Kent deputy responded to a call for service in the Eltham area after shots had been fired. Upon arriving, he learned information that shots had been coming from the residence of Duckett. The officer located Duckett, who was shooting at targets, with those shots hitting a shed and an unoccupied trailer across the street. Duckett was arrested for the crimes, and two 9mm pistols were confiscated.

Under the agreement, Duckett received a 12-month sentence with all time suspended. Both of the confiscated firearms were forfeited as the result of the plea deal.

–Blair Victoria Peters Howe, 31, of the 800 block of Union Forge Lane, Chesapeake, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of a Schedule I/II drug and felony failure to appear as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on Jan. 23, 2023, a New Kent deputy responded to a call for service to a residence on New Kent Highway of possible suspicious activity. When the officer around, they noticed a male and female outside of a vehicle. The driver told the deputy that he believed his passenger, later identified as Howe, may have had drugs on her. A K-9 unit was brought to the scene, alerting deputies of possible drugs in a bookbag that was in Howe’s possession. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a pill bottle with items that looked like crystal rocks. The substance was sent to a forensics lab, with the results of the substance returning as the combination of cocaine, Fentanyl, and methamphetamine. Howe did not show up for her original court date on May 9, 2023, prompting the failure to appear conviction.

Under the agreement, all five years on the possession of a Schedule I/II drug were suspended. Howe also received a five-year sentence with all but 10 days suspended on the failure to appear conviction. She must also pay $1,500 in total finals.

–Deazionea Louweaze Manning, 25, of the 4900 block of Casablanca Road, Virginia Beach, entered guilty pleas to an amended charge of misdemeanor violating a protective order (originally violating a protective order while in possession of a firearm) and misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon as part of a plea deal.

In a summary of evidence, on Nov. 7, 2023, Manning was pulled over for a traffic offense in the county. After the officer obtained information about the defendant and the current protective order, they asked the defendant if she had anything illegal in the vehicle. Manning said that she had a gun, which was in her pocketbook and out of sight.

Under the agreement, Manning received 12-month sentences on each charge with all time suspended on both charges. She must pay $1,000 in total fines.

–Nevin Bryce White, 23, of the 400 block of Whitworth Way, Williamsburg, had one charge of possession of a Schedule I/II drug dismissed after successfully completing the First Offender Program.