Highlights from Circuit Court for March 12, 2014

Derek Johnson and Dwayne Bundy were both sentenced to twenty years with seventeen years and three months suspended (two year and nine months of active time to serve) for their convictions of malicious wounding. The charge stemmed from a brutal beating the night of May 23, 2013. The victim suffered significant injuries including a broken arm and vision problems. A third co-defendant Twan Byrd was convicted by a jury of malicious wounding on January 2, 2014. The jury recommended an eight year sentence

Nagi Alamashmali, a clerk at A&N Tobacco, LLC was convicted of distributing smokeable synthetic cannabinoids (commonly referred to as spice). Mr. Alashmali also forfeited $20,000 to the benefit of the Tappahannock Police Department and the Essex County Sheriffs Office. A&N Tobacco remains open but has stopped selling spice since last August after it was raided by the Tappahannock Police Department, Essex County Sheriffs Office and the Virginia State Police. With that and the closure of Slipknots, spice is no longer sold commercially in sold in Essex County.

Patricia Green, Winona Thacker, and Kimberly Woodland were all convicted of selling prescription schedule II drugs. Schedule II is the same level drug as cocaine. Patricia Green and Winona Thacker were both sentenced to ten years with nine years and four months suspended for ten years (eight month of active time to serve). Kimberly Woodland was sentenced to ten years with nine years and two months suspended for ten years (ten months of active time to serve). This was the first felony conviction for all three women.