Man pleads guilty to burglary and thefts in Northampton

By Linda Cicoira

A 34-year-old Franktown man could be sentenced to more than 100 years in prison for breaking into a house and buildings and stealing money, a gun, and other items last September.

James Waylon Widgeon, of Cabarras Drive, pleaded guilty Monday in Northampton Circuit Court to nine charges in a plea agreement with Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Kevin Sullivan. In exchange for the pleas, the charge of using a weapon to enter the house was reduced to burglary and one count of wearing a mask to hide his identity wasn’t prosecuted.

Sentencing was set for Nov. 24. A presentence report and guidelines were ordered. Sullivan agreed to favor an active sentence within the guidelines.

Widgeon admitted to breaking into the home of Donald Sheets Jr. in Nassawadox, grand theft of property valued at more than $1,000 including a firearm belonging to Sheets, being a violent felon in possession of a gun, two counts of burglary of a building belonging to Gordon Campbell, stealing property valued at less than $1,000 belonging to Campbell, wearing a mask, hood, or other device to conceal his identity, burglary of property belonging to William Farlow Sr. and David Farlow Jr., and stealing property there.

     A security camera showed Widgeon inside Sheets’ home. The defendant climbed in a bedroom window that the owner thought was locked while he was out of town. Cash, a revolver, a knife, drugs, food, and a cooler were taken.  Widgeon also got a large number of quarters and property from the other locations.