Bond Granted For Woman Accused of Sex Crime Against Child

By Linda Cicoira
A $10,000 secured bond was granted Tuesday in Northampton Circuit Court for a young Exmore woman accused of committing sex crimes against a 13- or 14-year-old girl.
Melissa Spates, 19, of Exmore, was indicted on counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, attempted sodomy with an object by force, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection with Sept. 8 incidents.
Judge W. Revell Lewis III set conditions to the bond. Spates is not allowed to have any contact with the victim or the victim’s family and is not allowed on social media for the duration of the case. Spates was arrested Nov. 14.
In another case, Jabias Keandre Kellam, also known as Nika, of Exmore, failed to successfully complete the youthful offender program. The sentences for his crimes were reinstated. He was given 15 years with six years and seven months suspended and indefinite probation for both burglary and robbing a business with a gun. The crimes happened in August 2015.
Kellam was 18 and living in Willis Wharf when he robbed a nine-year-old girl with a semiautomatic pistol at El Rachito store in Cheriton.
Daniel G. Randall, 45, of Exmore, pleaded guilty to petty larceny, a misdemeanor, and was given a 12-month suspended sentence. He was initially indicted on a count of robbery by violence. The incident occurred July 28.