Judgement withheld for a year for a Melfa woman accused of 3 felonies

By Linda Cicoira

Judgment was withheld Thursday in Accomack Circuit Court for a Melfa woman charged with committing three July 2023 felonies.

Judge Tanya Bullock agreed to go along with a plea-bargaining agreement between Commonwealth’s Attorney Spencer Morgan and 44-year-old Tara Dawn Bonniwell, of Mapp Road, in Melfa. She entered pleas of no contest due to the evidence against her.

In December, Bonniwell was indicted on counts of maliciously wounding Jacob Merritt, of Wachapreague; destruction of property belonging to Riptide Real Estate LLC; and failure to stop for an accident involving more than $1,000 in damage. The latter charge was not prosecuted.

      The agreement allows the defendant to be convicted of misdemeanor counts of assault and battery and destruction of property after she completes a year of supervised probation. She was required to pay $500 in restitution and did so Thursday.