Covington Man Sentenced to 26 Years for Money Laundering Charges
October 30, 2008
COVINGTON MAN SENTENCED TO 26 YEARS FOR MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES
Barry Lamonte Smith, age 45, of Covington has been sentenced to twenty six (26) years in the penitentiary for five (5) charges of money laundering and one count of failing to file a Virginia State Tax Income Return. The sentence was imposed by Judge Malfourd W. Trumbo of the Alleghany County Circuit Court.
According to Commonwealth’s Attorney Ed Stein, Smith was indicted by a Special Grand Jury after an investigation by the Alleghany Highlands Drug Task Force. Special Agent Mike Keen of the Virginia State Police,
directed the financial aspects of the investigation. Stein said that this was the first use of an Investigative Grand Jury in the area to investigate drug related offenses.
Smith was found guilty of offenses from 2002 thru 2006. Seventeen (17) years of the sentence was suspended. Upon his release from the penitentiary Smith will be placed on three (3) years probation.
Stein said that in addition to the prison sentence the Task Force seized Smith’s assets including a 1991 BMW, 2002 Acura, 2002 Cadillac Escalade, 2006 Dodge Magnom, jewelry and electronic equipment. The assets will be sold and the proceeds will be given to the jurisdictions that belong to the Task Force.
Eighteen Year Old Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter
October 23, 2008
EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD FOUND GUILTY OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER
Eighteen year old Norman Lee Thomas, Jr. has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter arising from a September, 2007 incident. Thomas entered a no contest plea in the Alleghany County Circuit Court and will be sentenced after the preparation of a presentence report.
Robert James Smith, age 16, was killed when the car driven by Thomas ran off the road at Exit 16 of Interstate 64. Both Smith and Thomas were students at Covington High School and had left the school together with a third student to sell year book ads.
According to Commonwealth’s Attorney Ed Stein Thomas admitted to going at least eighty (80) mph at the time of the incident. However a State Police accident reconstruction team placed his speed at a minimum of ninety four (94) mph.
Stein said that Thomas was 17 at the time of the incident and originally charged as a juvenile. However due to the seriousness of the case he moved to have Thomas tried as an adult.
Child Molester Gets 30 Years
August 28, 2008
CHILD MOLESTER GETS 30 YEARS
Jason Wade Lundquist, 32, of Covington was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison for sexually molesting a girl under the age of 13.
The girl’s mother met Lundquist in an on-line chat room and allowed him to move into her home after he claimed to be grief stricken over the death of his 10 year old son in a motorcycle accident, said Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney, Ann Gardner. Lundquist later admitted that story was a lie and that he never had a son.
The abuse began in Ohio and continued in Virginia for over a year until a school counselor notified the Covington Police Department. In a police interview, Lundquist said “I screwed up” and described his behavior as “playing around” claiming to have been asleep during much of the abuse, Gardner said.
At his sentencing hearing, Lundquist apologized and promised to seek treatment. In asking the court for leniency, attorney David B. Davis argued that by pleading guilty Lundquist saved the victim from having to testify.
Gardner argued that a lengthy sentence was the best way to prevent Lundquist from victimizing other children in the future.
In addition to the 30 year active sentence, Judge Michael Irvine sentenced Lundquist to 140 years of suspended time. While incarcerated he is ordered to undergo sex offender treatment. Upon his release Lundquist will be on supervised probation for 20 years.
Lundquist is the third sex offender in Alleghany County to receive a sentence of 30 years or more this year, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney, Ed Stein. In June, an Iron Gate man was given 35 years for molesting his daughter. Andrew Washburn of Clifton Forge is serving a 36 year sentence for abduction and car jacking which began in Clifton Forge and led to a rape in Botetourt County.
Covington Man Sentenced to Fifty Years
April 3, 2008
COVINGTON MAN SENTENCED TO FIFTY YEARS
An Alleghany County Jury has recommended a fifty year penitentiary sentence after convicting a Covington man of two counts of selling cocaine. Lamar Dixon, age 52, was convicted of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance with the intent to distribute for two incidents that occurred on August 10, 2006. After finding him guilty, the jury imposed a sentence of 25 years and a fine of $5000.00 for each charge.
According to Commonwealth’s Attorney Ed Stein the Alleghany Highlands Drug Task force purchased crack cocaine from Dixon twice on the same day using a confidential informant. The investigation was conducted by Special Agent Eddie Philpott of the Virginia State Police, Sgt. Todd Frye of the Covington Police Department and Capt. Steve Haynes of the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Dept.
Stein said that it was his policy to request juries in all cases involving the sale of drugs. “Most defendants plead guilty to avoid being sentenced by a jury. The jury clearly represented the outrage that our community feels about drug dealers. It’s unfortunate that the sentencing guidelines set by the state that judges are expected to follow do not reflect the feelings of citizens”.
Stein said that Dixon will not be formally sentenced until after the preparation of a pre-sentence report. “I fully expect the Judge to follow the jury’s recommendation and impose the entire 50 year sentence”, Stein concluded.
Child Molestation Charges Certified to Grand Jury
Press Release
February 22, 2008
CHILD
MOLESTATION CHARGES CERTIFIED TO GRAND
JURY
Fifteen charges of sexual abuse brought against a
Covington man have been certified to the Alleghany
County Grand Jury after a hearing Friday in the
Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Jason Lundquist
was arrested in October 2007 and charged with five
counts of aggravated sexual battery, five counts of
animate object penetration and five counts of taking
indecent liberties with a child.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Ed Stein said that Lundquist
waved his right to have evidence presented in a
preliminary hearing after his attorney had an
opportunity to review the evidence in the case. The
case will now be presented to the next Grand Jury,
which meets April 14. Lundquist has been held without
bond in the Alleghany Regional Jail since his arrest.
Stein said that the allegations against Lundquist
involve a 12 year old girl. He was involved in a
relationship with the victim’s mother at the time the
offenses occurred. Lundquist was charged after a joint
investigation by the Alleghany County Department of
Social Services and the Covington Police
Department.
Covington Man Receives 20 Years for Molesting Daughter
Press Release
February 15, 2008
COVINGTON
MAN RECEIVES 20 YEARS FOR MOLESTING
DAUGHTER
A 42 year old Covington man has been sentenced to
twenty years in the penitentiary for sexually molesting
his 12 year old daughter, Commonwealth’s Attorney Ed
Stein announced today. The man plead guilty to one
charge of sexual abuse. The offense took place in
Covington on February 17, 2007.
Alleghany County Circuit Court Judge Malfourd Trumbo
suspended 14 years of the sentence. After the defendant
has served 6 years of his sentence, he will be placed
on 5 years supervised probation. The defendant will
also have to register as a sex offender.
Stein said that the 12 year old reported the sexual
abuse to her mother, who in turn contacted the
Department of Social Services. A child protective
worker and Investigator Steve Haynes of the Sheriff’s
Department conducted a joint investigation.
Investigator Haynes then placed the charge against the
defendant.
Stein noted that according to the State sentencing
guidelines the defendant would have received a sentence
between 1 ½ and 4 ½ years. Stein said that he was
pleased that the Judge went above the guidelines and
that his office will continue to seek long prison
sentences for child molesters.
Stein said that he is not releasing the name of the
defendant in order to protect the victim.
Goodwin Sentenced in Puppy Cruelty Case
January 15, 2008
GOODWIN
SENTENCED IN PUPPY CRUELTY CASE
Christopher Goodwin,
of Covington, was sentenced to the maximum twelve
months in jail on each of seven counts charging animal
cruelty in Alleghany County General District Court.
Judge J. Gregory Mooney suspended six years and eleven
months of the seven year sentence on the condition that
Goodwin neither have any companion animal in his
possession nor participate in the sale of any companion
animal, according to information released today by
Commonwealth’s Attorney Edward K. Stein.
Covington Animal Control Officer Delbert Smith and then
Investigator (now Sheriff) Kevin Hall found eight
dehydrated, malnourished and visibly ill Labrador mix
puppies living in filthy conditions at Goodwin’s home
on Gray Street. Goodwin advertised the puppies for sale
and had already sold one to a local couple for $50.00.
That puppy later died. After Goodwin ignored Officer
Smith’s directions to get veterinary care, officials
seized the seven remaining puppies on September 28,
2007.
Veterinarian, Dr. W. Perry Campbell, examined one of
the puppies finding it to be dehydrated with a “mixed
infestation of hookworms and coccidiosis – both of
which could be fatal to a puppy.” After being turned
over to Jerry Ross at the Alleghany County Humane
Society all seven puppies died when treatment efforts
failed. According to Ross, one puppy had to be
euthanized after illness rendered it paralyzed in both
rear legs. Another was found dead and the remaining
five were euthanized after being consumed with
parvovirus. Ross produced graphic photographs in court
showing the puppies’ critically ill condition.
Evidence revealed that Goodwin’s wife, who had
previously been convicted of animal cruelty, supplied
him with puppies to sell and then took a cut of the
profit. In June of 2007, Goodwin had puppies for sale
in another litter which had to be euthanized due to
parvovirus.
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney, Ann Gardner, argued
that, for Goodwin, this was a money making enterprise
with no regard for the animals. Gardner added that
Goodwin continued this abusive practice for months and
refused to seek veterinary care even after being told
to do so.
After serving a 30 day active jail sentence, Goodwin
will be on probation to the court for the remainder of
the seven years.