Melfa man unsuccessfully tries to withdraw guilty plea

By Linda Cicoira

A Melfa man unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw guilty pleas to five counts of felony child abuse in Accomack Circuit Court Thursday, saying he didn’t commit the crimes and felt compelled to agree to a plea bargain in February so he wouldn’t be held in jail for months while awaiting a jury trial.

“I felt like I only had two options,” 34-year-old Rhondai Shamek Carrasco told the court. “Sit in jail or accept it. I just felt like it was out of my control.”

Carrasco was initially indicted on five counts of raping a girl younger than 13 between 2016 and 2020. Prosecutor Spencer Morgan offered a plea agreement that reduced the charges so the victim would not have to testify about the incidents. She took the witness stand during a preliminary hearing three years ago. The agreement called for the defendant to be sentenced to 10 years for each charge, to run concurrently, with all but a year suspended.

Judge Leslie L. Lilley refused to allow Carrasco to withdraw because he was never told his bond would be revoked if he asked for the jury. The judge said the move was suggested but never argued or considered. Lilley also noted no new evidence was shown to consider a new trial. The judge also reviewed the agreement with the defendant before it was accepted. At that time, Carrasco said he had voluntarily agreed.

The judge would also not allow defense lawyer Garrett Dunham to withdraw from the case until after a sentence was handed down. The defendant plans to appeal and would have another lawyer appointed to handle that. Dunham wanted to withdraw because he had encouraged Carrasco to take the plea.

Testimony disclosed that continuances were granted at least six times in the case. In addition, there were delays when two previous defense attorneys had conflicts that forced them to withdraw. They also advised the defendant to accept the agreement.

Dunham said when signing the guilty plea, Carrasco cried and denied the crime with every question it entailed. They reviewed the form for an hour when it could have taken five minutes. Carrasco’s wife also agreed that he didn’t want to sign but did so to stay out of jail.

He was ordered to stay away from the victim after serving his time. He will be on supervised probation for three years and good behavior for 10 years.

Several members of Carrasco’s family, including his wife and at least two small children cried and moaned at the outcome.

“God will have the last say, that’s for sure,” an older woman said.