Parksley man gets 13 years active for abduction, strangulation, rape and escape

By Linda Cicoira

A 40-year-old Parksley man was sentenced Thursday in Accomack Circuit Court to a total of 13 years active years in prison for abducting, strangling, and raping a local woman he lured to his house with the promise of work and for attempting to escape from Accomack Jail a few months later.

Judge Lynwood W. Lewis Jr. sentenced Lance Carl Jester, of Woodland Avenue, in accordance with a plea-bargain made with Commonwealth’s Attorney Spencer Morgan at trial last month. The maximum term for the crimes was life in prison plus a fine of $102,500.

A breakdown of the terms included 10 years for abduction, five years for strangulation, and 40 years for rape with all but 10 suspended. Jester was given another five years with all but three suspended for attempting to break out of jail. The first three terms were set to run concurrently while the last term would run consecutively with the others.

Jester was ordered to have “no contact with the victim at all forever.” The victim’s name is not being disclosed due to the nature of the crimes.

In another case, defense lawyer Patrick Bales motioned the court to dismiss drug charges against his client, 31-year-old Devonte Lashawn Davis, of Airport Drive in Melfa. Bales claimed the right to a speedy trial was denied to his client since he was indicted for the crime more than five months ago.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney William Fox said he attempted numerous times to set a trial date with a previous defense lawyer. Fox wanted to call that attorney, Isabel Kaldenbach, to testify

Bales argued that a ruling in another case “made it clear that a former lawyer should not use information in a client’s defense to the disadvantage of the client.”

Judge Lewis allowed Kaldenbach to testify. She confirmed that she was appointed to represent Davis shortly after he was indicted. However, when asked about negotiations in the case, she invoked client-attorney privilege and confidentiality restraints. Kaldenbach said an ethics counsel advised her not to disclose such information unless the judge ordered it.

“I’m not prepared to order her to do anything right now,” Lewis said.

Fox said he was ready to proceed with the case and to show the judge copies of email conversations between him and Kaldenbach regarding Davis.

Lewis asked for briefs from both sides. Fox said that would delay the case further.
“We attempted to set a trial date and it was waived by discussion,” Fox added.