Justice in Caroline? Nope, just nolle prosequis. Part 2 AKA Latney fiddles while Caroline burns…

See previous article.

I previously quoted this week’s edition of The Caroline Progress regarding the various nolle prosequis [Latin for “not to wish to prosecute”] by Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Latney, Jr., Esq., well it gets even better when you check out the background of the people that Mr. Latney, Esq., wishes not to prosecute (nolle prosequi by Latney in italics, felonies in bold [note: this is just Caroline County, Virginia unless otherwise noted {photo credit: Caroline County Sheriff’s Office and Delaware Criminal Justice Information System – Online Wanted Person Review}]):

  • Eric Childs: Eric Childs
    • July 10, 2007:
      • Pleaded guilty – Distribution of cocaine.
      • Pleaded guilty – Distribution of cocaine.
      • Nolle prosequi – Distribution of cocaine.
      • Nolle prosequi – Distribution of cocaine.
    • March 26, 2006:
      • Guilty – Possession/distribution of controlled paraphernalia.
    • February 8, 2006:
      • Guilty in absentia – Drunk in public.
    • May 27, 2005:
      • Guilty – Petit larceny.
    • May 31, 1998:
      • Guilty in absentia – Drunk in public.
  • Paul Ferguson:
    • August 24, 2007:
      • Pending – Failure to appear on felony charge.
      • Pending – Possession of cocaine.
      • Pending – Driving on suspended.
    • July 10, 2007:
      • Nolle prosequi – Credit card fraud.
    • April 6, 2007:
      • Guilty – Failure to appear on felony charge.
      • Guilty – Driving on suspended.
      • Guilty – Seat belt violation.
    • February 2, 2007:
      • Guilty in absentia – Driving under revoked/suspended license.
      • Guilty in absentia – Failure to appear on driving suspended.
      • Guilty in absentia – Safety beat violation.
    • July 19, 2006:
      • Guilty in absentia – Expired state inspection.
      • Guilty in absentia – Seat belt violation.
      • Guilty in absentia – No operation license in possession.
    • June 25, 2003:
      • Prepaid – 62/45 speeding.
    • July 3, 2002:
      • Prepaid – 74/55 speeding.
  • Saleem Stevens:
    • July 10, 2007:
      • Nolle Prosequi – Possession of a controlled substance.
    • June 24, 2005:
      • Nolle prosequi – Possession of Schedule I/II drugs.
      • Nolle prosequi – Distribution of Schedule I/II drugs.
      • Nolle prosequi – Possession of a controlled substance.
      • Nolle prosequi – Conspiracy to violate drug act.
      • Nolle prosequi – Possession of substance with firearm.
      • Nolle prosequi – Possession of cocaine.
      • Nolle prosequi – Possession of ecstacy [sic].
      • Nolle prosequi – Possession of heroin.
      • Nolle prosequi – Possession of marijuana.
  • Edward Pinkney:
    • July 13, 2007:
      • Guilty – Trespass after forbidden.
      • Nolle prosequi – Grand larceny.
    • January 5, 1994:
      • Sentence/Probation revoked – Show cause.
    • May 26, 1993:
      • Guilty – Possession of cocaine.
  • Donald Grabenstein:
    • July 13, 2007:
      • Nolle prosequi – Assault and battery.
    • January 19, 2005, District Court for Baltimore County, Maryland:
      • Guilty – Assault, second degree.
      • Guilty – Disorderly conduct.
    • June 29, 2004, District Court for Baltimore City, Maryland:
      • Guilty – Controlled dangerous substance: Possession – not marihuana [sic].
  • Ernest Deviers:Ernest Deviers
    • July 13, 2007:
      • Nolle prosequi – Assault and battery.
    • October 19, 2005 in Stafford County, Virginia:
      • Guilty – Criminal non-support.
    • December 6, 2001 in Stafford County, Virginia:
      • Guilty in absentia – Bad check $34.16.
    • July 31, 2001 in Fredericksburg, Virginia:
      • Guilty – Failure to appear for trial.
      • Guilty – Bad check $89.88.
    • February 27, 1998 in Stafford County, Virginia:
      • Guilty – Habitual offender violation.
    • September 30, 1997 in Stafford County, Virginia:
      • Guilty in absentia – Invalid boat registration.
      • Guilty in absentia – Operation boat without proper.
    • April 19, 1993 in Stafford County, Virginia:
      • Driving while suspended after driving while intoxicated.
    • Has warrants out for him in two states:
      • Delaware:
        • Capias / Failure to appear – capias return/civil contempt of court.
        • Warrant failure to appear / failure to stop at a stop sign – warrant failure to appear / driving while suspended or revoked.
        • Capias failure to pay / driving while suspended or revoked.
      • Maryland:
        • Failure to appear – Driving while intoxicated, under the influence of alcohol or drugs or drugs & alcohol or controlled dangerous substance.
        • Failure to appear – Person driving motor vehicle on suspended out of state license.

Sources:

Justice in Caroline? Nope, just nolle prosequis.

From The Caroline Progress (print edition): Circuit Court–July 10 [emphasis mine throughout]:

Eric Childs, of Ruther Glen, was charged with four counts distribution of cocaine from separate incidents on Sept. 13, 2006, Sept. 20, 2006 and Nov. 6, 2006. He was arrested on April 17 following a direct indictment by Caroline County Grand Jury. Two of the charges were nolle prosequi. Childs pleaded guilty to the other two felony charges and is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on Sept. 25.

Paul David Ferguson, of Ruther Glen, was charged with felony credit card fraud from an incident on April 22, 2006. He was arrested on May 5, 2006. The charge was nolle prosequi.

Saleem R. Stevens, of unknown address, was charged with felony possession of controlled substance from an incident on Dec. 2, 2004. He was arrested on Jan. 9 following a direct indictment by Caroline County Grand Jury. The charge was nolle prosequi.

From The Caroline Progress (print edition): General District Court–July 13 [emphasis mine throughout]:

Edward Carl Pinkney, of Woodford, was found guilty of misdemeanor trespassing from an incident on March 10. He was arrested on March 25 by Caroline County Deputy Ketchem. Pinkney was originally charged with felony burglary and grand larceny, but the burglary charged was amended and the grand larceny charge was nolle prosequi. He was sentenced to 12 months with 12 months suspended on the amended charge.

Donald Grabenstein, of Rappahannock Academy, was charged with assault and battery from an incident on June 17. The charge was nolle prosequi.

Ernest W. Deviers, Jr., of Fredericksburg, was charged with assault from and incident on June 17. The charge was nolle prosequi.

Nice to see that Harvey Latney chooses not to prosecute drug dealers, credit card defrauders, grand larcenizers, and assault and batterers. Am I the only one that thinks there needs to be a change in this county?

In totally unrelated news, Harvey Latney’s former secretary, Sheila M. Boone, will be in Richmond City Circuit Court on September, 19, 2007, at 10:00AM (Room 301), on four (4) charges of embezzlement committed while Harvey Latney’s secretary. “Latney is neither accused nor suspected of any wrongdoing, said Richmond prosecutor Sangeeta Darji, who is handling the case.”