Onancock man could get 5 years on three violent offenses

By Linda Cicoira

An Onancock area man pleaded guilty late last week in Accomack Circuit Court to three violent offenses from 2023 that could land him in prison for five years.

Thirty-four-year-old Deshawn Markiese Drummond, of Dogwood Drive, admitted to the unlawful wounding of his friend, 37-year-old Brandon Buckner, maliciously shooting at a vehicle occupied by Buckner, and being a felon in possession of ammunition.

Around 11 p.m., June 6, 2023, Buckner arrived unannounced at Drummond’s home on Dogwood Drive. According to evidence, the two men got into a verbal altercation, and a fight ensued. Drummond had gotten close to Buckner when arguing. Buckner shoved him. Drummond bit his ear and struck him in the head with a pistol and shot at him. As Buckner was trying to leave, Drummond shot at him some more. Police later found ammo in a tent in Drummond’s backyard.

Drummond was also found guilty of violating his probation. He was one of several men charged in a 2017 murder-for-hire scheme that involved a police informant. In that case, he was given a 10-year suspended term for conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice.

     In a plea agreement, Drummond’s active time in prison was capped at five years. Sentencing was deferred until July 10, when a short-form presentence report is expected to be completed.