Accomack Circuit accepts guilty pleas and hands down terms

By Linda Cicoira

A 35-year-old Hallwood man pleaded guilty Thursday in Accomack Circuit Court to four of 10 charges involving breaking into farm buildings and stealing copper wire and pipes earlier this year.

Dennis Roger Gray Jr., of Main Street, entered the pleas in the bargaining agreement with Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Baker. Despite dropping six charges, the deal made no promises regarding punishment and could result in the defendant facing as much as 70 years in prison. Restitution, likely to be split among Gray and two other suspects, could total $360,000.

Gray admitted to breaking into Lippman Family Farms in Hallwood between Feb. 27 and March 7, 2025, and burglary at Fresh Delmonte Produce in Tasley in April. He also pleaded guilty to April charges of stealing property with intent to sell that was valued at more than $1,000 and grand larceny.

The DNA from cigarette butts and a hat was among the evidence against him. Gray asked for an evaluation of the CCAP drug program. One of the counts that was dropped was for possession of methamphetamine. A short form presentence report was ordered. Sentencing was set for March 26.

In another case, 47-year-old Latoya Tynisha Drummond, of Onancock, was sentenced to six years of active time in prison for two counts of distributing cocaine in 2023. The initial charges called for a maximum of 80 years in prison. Each offense consisted of less than a gram of the drug. Since her arrest, Drummond earned several certificates and was baptized. “I take full responsibility for my actions,” she said.

Twenty-five-year-old Austin Tyler Burland, of Cooke Street in Parksley, was given a suspended 90-day jail term and a year of good behavior for misdemeanor destruction of property. He was initially charged with attempting to break into the Dollar General Store in Parksley in May 2024.

Forty-five-year-old Jeffery Ray Lewis, of Main Street on Chincoteague, was convicted of possession of methamphetamine. He was offered a first offender status last year, but did not complete the restrictions, which included doing 100 hours of community service. He was given a 90-day suspended sentence and was ordered to be on supervised probation for two years.

Thirty-two-year-old Brittany Michelle Stacy, of Pinwheel Lane in Clemmons, N.C., pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine in May of 2025. After being arrested in a vehicle that was alleged to have been involved in a robbery, a plastic baggie containing the drug was found in her possession. Sentencing was deferred until Feb. 26. She could face a maximum of 10 years in prison.