Richmond man to spend 33 months in jail for possessing drugs in New Kent

A Richmond man will spend the next 33 months in prison for illegally possessing methamphetamine in New Kent.

Richard L. Harrington Sr., 44, of the 100 block of Commerce Street, entered a guilty plea to possession of a Schedule I/II drug as part of a plea agreement reached Monday afternoon in New Kent Circuit Court. One charge of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon was dropped as part of the deal.

In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on Apr. 8 a New Kent deputy on patrol noticed a truck weaving back and forth on Pocahontas Trail. A traffic stop was executed and the driver, later identified as Harrington, said he had just purchased the vehicle. The deputy ran information on Harrington, discovering he had a warrant for his arrest out of Chesterfield. The defendant was placed in custody and a search of the truck was conducted. The deputy discovered a blue bookbag with a bottle that had a silver cap on it. Inside of that bottle was a white powdery substance, discovered to be methamphetamine after being sent to the forensics lab.

Under the agreement, Harrington received a 10-year prison sentence with seven years, three months suspended (two years, nine months to serve). He must also pay a fine of $1,000.

In other circuit court matters:

–Anthony Jerome Henry Jr., 21, currently of Henrico Jail East, entered a guilty plea to a solo count of delivering drugs to a prisoner.

In a summary of evidence, on May 19, investigators reviewed video of an individual placing an item under the wheel of a trash bin. When authorities went out to the bin, they removed the item that is usually connected to suboxone. When a second individual went to the same trash bin later in the day, they appeared to be looking for the item. The first individual, identified as Henry, was arrested for possessing the substance, identified as the illegal substance.

Under the agreement, Henry received a five-year sentence with all but seven months suspended. He must also pay a fine of $500.

–Janicia Latisha Phillips, 35, of the 8100 block of Tidewater Trail, Urbanna, entered a straight guilty plea to possession of a Schedule I/II drug.

In a summary of evidence, on March 17, a New Kent deputy was called out for suspicious behavior on Egypt Road. The deputy noticed a car stopped on the road and executed a traffic stop. The passenger, identified as Phillips, was acting erratically and the driver of the car gave consent for it to be searched. A search of a purse on the passenger’s side yielded the discovery of burnt glass pipes with residue. The pipes were sent to the forensics lab, with test results identifying the residue as cocaine.

A presentence report is being prepared, with sentencing guidelines recommending a range of 11 months to two years, one month to serve. Phillips’ sentencing is expected to take place in Jan. 2025.

–Raif Morgan Springer, of Highland Springs, had three charges of distributing a Schedule I/II drug and one charge of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I/II charge dropped.