Law used to stifle gang activity in Lynchburg

By Chris Dumond

Published: May 17, 2008

Prosecutors in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office are increasingly using a 2000 law to crack down on members of at least 16 gangs identified in Lynchburg.

Under the law, committing a crime committed for the “benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang” is a felony carrying one to 10 years in prison.

The city’s first gang prosecution happened last October when the assistant commonwealth’s attorney charged two juveniles with two counts of felony gang participation and two misdemeanor counts of mob assault.

The boys, members of a Bloods gang on Sixth Street, chased rival Crips through the neighborhood in a June shooting confrontation.

Friday morning, General District Court Judge Edwin Burnette certified felony gang participation charges against two other men accused of robbing a city couple during a drug deal.

If convicted, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Mike Pflieger said it’s hard to tell how much extra time the men could be sentenced to serve, but that it will enhance a sentencing recommendation under the state guidelines.

Eric Thompson, 20, and Quentin Randolph, 25, both of Lynchburg, met Matt Chenault and Chastity Craig near the Dearington Apartments on Patrick Street on Jan. 26.

Chenault testified he had come to buy marijuana from Thompson, but when his

partner, Randolph, offered to sell him cocaine, the two started fighting.

Chenault said Randolph tore his pants pocket trying to steal cash from his pocket and that Thompson reached into the car, snatched Craig’s purse and ran away.

According to police testimony, Thompson and Randolph filled a bag up with baking soda and planned to beat up Chenault, rob him and split his money.

Lynchburg Police Officer K.P. Poindexter testified that both men have told him in the past that they were members of local Crips gangs, particularly the 12th Street Crips.

Poindexter, a gangs specialist with the city police department, said he runs into gang members “almost on a daily basis.” He said gang activity here is mostly in drug sales and in robbing rival drug dealers.

Burnette said he was persuaded that Thompson was an active gang member and that Randolph’s participation in the planned robbery was enough to meet the requirements of the gang-participation law.

A June grand jury will consider felony charges of grand larceny and gang participation against Thompson and felony charges of attempted robbery and gang participation against Randolph.

Both men are jailed in the Lynchburg Adult Detention Center.