Lanexa man receives 16-month jail term for possessing child pornography

A Lanexa man will spend 16 months in jail for possession of child pornography after agreeing to a plea deal Monday afternoon in New Kent Circuit Court.

Wayne William McCarthy, 61, of the 15000 block of Pocahontas Trail, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of child pornography (first offense) and possession of child pornography (second offense) as part of his agreement. Seven counts of possession of child pornography (second offense), three counts of production of child pornography, and one count of child pornography (first offense) were dropped as part of deal.

In a summary of evidence by New Kent Commonwealth Attorney Scott Renick, on Aug. 10, 2023, New Kent Sheriff’s Office received information from an online tip about possible child pornography being exchanged. An investigation was conducted, with information and tracking leading to McCarthy’s residence. When officers arrived, they questioned McCarthy about the information, he confessed that he had images of underage children. Investigators were able to find photographs and images in his possession, leading to his arrest and subsequent charges.

Under the agreement, McCarthy received a 10-year sentence with eight years, eight months suspended (one year, four months to serve) on the possession of child pornography (second offense) conviction. All five years on the possession of child pornography (first offense) charge were suspended. He must also pay $2,000 in fines.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–Shelton Matthew Hardy, 31, of the 4300 block of East Parham Road, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of marijuana by a prisoner and felony failure to appear as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on May 13, 2023, investigators working at Henrico Jail East received information about the possible possession of marijuana by a prisoner. Hardy was developed as a suspect through the investigation and officers were able to recover marijuana on him when a search was conducted. Hardy also failed to appear on the charge later, triggering the failure to appear conviction.

Hardy received a 10-year sentence with nine years, five months suspended (seven months to serve) on the possession of marijuana conviction. All three years on the failure to appear were suspended.

–Ronald Nolasco, 42, of the 10000 block of Carriage Road, Providence Forge, pled guilty to an amended charge of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor (originally felony child abuse) and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated (second offense) as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on Jan. 3, an officer noticed a vehicle that was driving erratically. The officer conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Nolasco. While speaking with Nolasco, the officer detected the odor of alcohol and conducted a field sobriety test. The defendant performed poorly on the test and was arrested. A breathalyzer test revealed Nolasco’s blood-alcohol content level to be above the legal limit of .08. Inside the car with Nolasco was a juvenile, prompting the contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge and subsequent conviction.

Nolasco received a sentence of 365-days on the DWI (second offense) conviction, with all but 35 days suspended. He must also pay a $2,000 fine related to that charge. All 12 months on the contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge were suspended.