Shacklefords man who nearly hit New Kent deputy receives year in jail

A Shacklefords man whose erratic driving almost resulted in tragedy in New Kent will serve a year in jail.

Vincent Lee Richardson, 58, of the 2900 block of Stratton Major Road, was sentenced on one charge each of driving revoked (felony related) and misdemeanor reckless driving as part of Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

During an Oct. 28, 2024 trial, Richardson entered into a plea agreement admitting to the offense. A summary of evidence by New Kent Commonwealth Attorney at that trial, on Apr. 18, 2024, a New Kent deputy executed a traffic stop on a vehicle on the Eltham Bridge at the northern border of the county. While the officer was dealing with that stop, he noticed a vehicle approaching at a high rate of speed drifting towards the emergency lane during the stop. The officer was able to leap out the way to avoid being struck by vehicle, which pulled over shortly after. The deputy released the driver from the first stop and approached the other vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle, identified as Richardson, began to apologize for his driving. The deputy detected the odor of alcohol on Richardson and asked him to step out of the vehicle. While Richardson was not legally intoxicated, a search of his driver’s license showed that he was revoked for alcohol-related driving. Richardson was arrested and taken into custody, with the defendant admitting that he knew he shouldn’t have been driving.

Richardson received a five-year sentence with four years suspended (one year to serve) on the driving revoked conviction. All 12 months on the misdemeanor reckless driving were suspended.

In other circuit court matters:

–Shaun Gregory Brindle, 44, of the 200 block of Park Drive, Petersburg, entered a guilty plea to a single count of possession of a Schedule I/II drug as part of a plea deal.

In a summary of evidence, on May 2, 2024, Virginia State Police on patrol noticed a vehicle without proper registration. A traffic stop was executed and the officer continued to investigate while speaking to the driver, later identified as Brindle. When no information from the vehicle idenfication number and display tags were discovered, a search of the vehicle was executed. The search yielded the discovery of marijuana and a white substance inside of a dollar bill. Brindle admitted that the substance was methamphetamine.

Under the agreement, Brindle received a 10-year sentence with all time suspended. He must also pay a fine of $1,000.

–Matthew Brian McCormack, 53, of the 500 block of Roycroft Street, Williamsburg, entered guilty pleas to one count each of driving while intoxicated (third or subsequent offense) and misdemeanor reckless driving by speed.

In a summary of evidence, on May 19, 2024, a Virginia State Police officer monitoring traffic on Interstate 64 near mile marker 215 clocked a vehicle traveling 100 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone. A traffic stop as executed and the driver, identified as McCormack, displayed signs of intoxication. A field sobriety test was conducted, with the defendant doing poorly on it. When questioned about his alcohol intake, McCormack admitted he had a margarita four hours prior to the traffic stop.

Under the plea agreement, received a five-year sentence with four years, nine months suspended (three months to serve) on the DWI (third offense) conviction. He received a 12-month sentence with all time suspended on the reckless driving conviction. He must also pay a total of $2,000 in fines.

–Eliz Nazaret Herrera Ordonez, 19, of the 8100 block of Halsey Court, Manasses, entered a guilty plea to a single count of possession of a Schedule I/II drug.

In a summary of evidence, on July 13, 2024, a New Kent deputy on patrol in Eltham noticed a vehicle pull out of 7-Eleven with no registration in it. A traffic stop took place, and the officer noticed the driver take something from the passenger side and slide it under his seat. The officer questioned the driver and noticed the passenger, later identified as Ordonez, in possession of a vape. When questioned about her age, she said she was under the legal age of 21. A search of the vehicle yielded the discovery of a Hello Kitty purse with a tablet inside of it. That tablet was tested and later determined to be Fentanyl.

Under the agreement, Ordonez will be placed in the First Offender Program. If she successfully completes the year-long program, the charge will be dismissed.

–Robert William Slowinski, 54, of the 3500 block of Poquoson Court, Glen Allen, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of a Schedule I/II and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated (first offense).

In a summary of evidence, on July 10, 2024, a New Kent deputy on patrol noticed vehicles pulled off to the side on New Kent Highway. The officer investigated as the two drivers of a fender bender, with Slowinski as one of the driver’s involved. As the officer interviewed Slowinski, he noticed the driver sweating excessively. The defendant admitted to paramedics that he had sniffed heroin earlier, leading to the officer searching the car. Inside the vehicle, the officer discovered red straws, a strip of paper with a white substance inside, and other items in a cigarette box. The substance was sent to the forensics lab, with results revealing it was Fentanyl.

Under the agreement, Slowinski will be placed on the First Offender program for the possession of drugs conviction. He received a 12-month sentence with all 10 days suspended on the misdemeanor DWI conviction along with a fine of $1,000.

–Eric Evan Smith, 36, of the 3800 block of Bolling Road, Richmond, entered a guilty plea to a single count of possession of a Schedule I/II drug.

In a summary of evidence, on June 7, 2024, a New Kent deputy executed a traffic stop after noticing a white sedan weaving back and forth on the road. The deputy approached the driver, identified as Smith, and questioned him about the driving and behavior. A second deputy arrived with a K-9 unit, who conducted an air sniff and alerted officers of possible narcotics. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a pill bottle and a white powdery substance under the driver’s seat. That substance was determined to be methamphetamine after lab test results.

Under the agreement, Smith was placed in the First Offender Program. The charge will be dismissed if he successfully completes the program.

–Robert E. Wilburn, 35, of the 1600 block of Outpost Road, Lanexa, learned his formal sentence for possessing a Schedule I/II drug. During an Oct. 1, 2024 trial, a summary of evidence revealed that on Jan. 22, 2024, citizens contacted authorities after noticing an individual acting erratically at Food Lion on Pocahontas Trail. When officers arrived, they were able to calm the person, now identified as Wilburn, and give him a lift back to his vehicle. As Wilburn entered into the car, a small bag fell from his pocket, which officers noticed had a white substance inside of it. The bag was tested by the forensics lab, with results yielding that the powder was cocaine.

Wilburn received a five-year sentence with all but three months suspended.