Man threatens former girlfriend with death and more

By Linda Cicoira

A 40-year-old Nassawadox man was convicted Thursday in Accomack Circuit Court of threatening his former girlfriend with a text message in January that stated he would kill her, have sex with her dead body, and set it on fire.

William Marcel Custis, formerly of Parksley, also sent a picture of a gun to the victim.

During a bond hearing earlier this year, Judge Lynwood W. Lewis Jr. said the information presented struck him “as a volatile situation.” He added that Custis was on probation, was a multi-state offender, and a protective order was filed against him last September. “It was a violent threat,” said Lewis. “I just don’t think he is a candidate for bond.”

Retired Judge W. Revell Lewis III heard the case and found the defendant guilty. The defendant maintained his innocence.

The victim said the two were discussing through text messages their relationship and both accused the other of cheating. After he made the threat, she said she stopped communicating with him. She was going to the Hampton Roads area that day, Jan. 27, when the text was sent to her.

The next day, the woman went to the sheriff’s office and showed the text and picture to a deputy who obtained a warrant. She later got threats from others through Facebook telling her to drop the charge.

“When I go to work at night, I have flashbacks,” she testified saying she feels that she always has to watch her back. “I really take it to the heart. I believe he will kill me … I don’t even sleep at night.”

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney William Fox said Custis denied contacting her following his arrest but jail phone logs showed he dialed her number.

The defendant testified that he had only texted, “Ya’ll enjoy yourselves.”

Defense lawyer Carl Bundick argued that although the victim said the text was received in Accomack County, there was no proof since she was traveling and didn’t know when it arrived. Bundick complained the alleged victim’s phone was no longer available and a printout of the text was not dated.

“He sent the (threatening) message to her,” Judge Revell Lewis said at the end of the hearing. “No question in my mind.”