Accomack Grand Jury Hands Down Indictments

By Linda Cicoira

A former Chincoteague Island couple was indicted Monday by an Accomack Grand Jury on a count of maliciously wounding their infant son in 2022 and two counts of neglecting a child by failing to act or refusing to provide necessary health care.

Twenty-five-year-old Amber Nichole Leager and 24-year-old Carlton Edward Robbins, both more recently of High Street in Seaford, Del., are being held in the Accomack Jail. The crimes allegedly occurred on Oct. 11, 2022. They were arrested in January. The child is in the care of his adopted parents and reportedly suffers from several serious health issues.

In another case, two men were indicted on charges regarding an April manhunt that allegedly began following a false report of an active shooter.

Twenty-year-old Tyler Malik Bynum, of Front Street in Accomac, was indicted on counts of making false statements on a voter registration form on March 1, 2024, June 10, 2024, and Feb. 26, 2026, and attempting to cause malicious bodily injury to K-9 Conan, of the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office, on April 29. Bynum was being sought by authorities for voter fraud at the time of the manhunt.

Nineteen-year-old Malik Lee Jones, who lived at the same Front Street address as Bynum, was indicted on a count of making a false emergency report that day. Court records showed that Northampton Commonwealth’s Attorney Jack Thornton will handle Jones’ prosecution.

Forty-year-old Christopher James Muller, of Accomac Road in Parksley, was indicted on a count of forcible sodomy on April 29. He was arrested May 19.

Twenty-one-year-old Matthew Thomas, of Hopkins Road in Parksley, was indicted on a count of soliciting a child under the age of 15 for a sex act on March 3. He was arrested on May 21.

Thirty-three-year-old Pattie Marie Shea and 50-year-old Daniel Mercado Mariano Jr., both of Canton Road on Tangier Island, were indicted on a count of stealing more than $1,000 of property on Jan. 18. Shea was also indicted on counts of assault and battery of Deputy B. Valasquez and Sgt. D. Williams.

Twenty-four-year-old Jaheim Christian Alexander, of Deon Drive in Hubert, N.C., was indicted on counts of eluding police with speeds of up to 20 mph over the speed limit and defacing property on June 11.

Fifty-eight-year-old Sampson Elliott Hodge Jr., of Francis Drive in Dunn, N.C., was indicted on counts of assault and battery of Deputy A. Clark and Deputy C. Stevens of the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office on April 26.

Twenty-five-year-old Ebelindo Gonzalez-Morales, of Hurst Stone Road in Greenbush, was indicted on a count of eluding police on May 2.

Forty-six-year-old Timothy Ray Buzgierski, of Dream Park Drive in New Church, was indicted on counts of stealing more than $1,000 in property on July 13, 2025, and possessing stolen property with intent to sell it.

Thirty-nine-year-old Malcolm Demont James, of Greta Road in Atlantic, was indicted on two counts of illegally obtaining a credit card on Jan. 31, 2026.

Twenty-three-year-old Terrence Richard Justice Jr., of Parks Road in Parksley, was indicted on a count of breaking into a home at night on April 30.

Thirty-two-year-old Lamonte Demetrius Johnson, of Accomac, was indicted on a count of maliciously wounding on March 17.

Thirty-four-year-old Jennifer M. Carpenter, of Mears Station Road in Mears, was indicted on a count of illegally possessing lisdexamfetamine, a stimulant used primarily to treat ADHD and moderate to severe binge eating disorder. She was also indicted on a count of abuse and neglect of a child. The alleged crimes occurred on May 17.

Forty-year-old Jean Kesnel Philistin, of Shore Main Drive in Bloxom, was indicted on a third or subsequent count of DWI in 10 years. Court records show that on May 17, a breathalyzer found him at .16 grams per 210 liters of breath. The limit is .08.

Thirty-one-year-old Joshua K. Bowen, of Wise Court in Accomac, was indicted on a count of assault and battery of Deputy G. Warner on March 30.