By Linda Cicoira
An Eastville man was indicted Monday in Northampton Circuit Court for the November 2018 strangulation of his longtime girlfriend.
Howard Cornelius Thomas Jr., 34, of Solomon Lane, was indicted on two counts of strangulation and a third offense of assault and battery of a family member. The incidents occurred Nov. 10, 2018. The victim was Kayla McCain. Records state Thomas was convicted of assault and battery of a household member twice in the last 20 years.
“When I arrived I found Ernest and Sheila Washington holding Howard Thomas Jr. down on the floor,” Chief Angelo DiMartino, of the Exmore Police Department (EPD), wrote on a warrant. “Sheila advised that Howard attacked her daughter in the hallway and when Ernest pulled Howard off, Howard started choking Ernest. Sheila said that was when she got on top of Howard to get him off of Ernest.”
“McCain advised that she was trying to get into the apartment when Howard ran down the hall and grabbed her by the neck and slammed her to the floor,” the chief wrote. “Kayla stated that when she started screaming her mom and dad came out to pull him off of her.”
McCain and Thomas had been in a relationship for a decade, the record showed. A video at the Exmore Village showed, “Howard sitting on top of Kayla choking her with both hands around her neck,” the file stated.
In other cases, three women were indicted for embezzling from the Food Lion in Exmore.
Wykia Shantell James, 26, of Hampton Court in Birdsnest, was indicted on embezzling property valued at $500 or more Oct. 2, 2018. A video and receipts showed her “letting employees and citizens leave with large carts of food for very little money,” DiMartino wrote. “She would scan and then void the items. Total so far is $980.”
Shatoria Monique Thomas, 27, of Tatum Circle in Exmore, was indicted on a count of embezzling property between July 1 and Oct. 26, 2018, while employed by Food Lion. She admitted to “letting a friend and family have groceries without paying for them,” the file concluded. “She stated approximately $3,000 worth.”
Tamekia Nakesha Davis, 28, of Savagetown Road in Painter, was indicted on a count of embezzling from the store between July 15 and Nov. 19, 2018. Sgt. Adam Zieger, of EPD, handled that case. The file stated a video showed Davis sliding merchandise across the counter and then voiding it from the total transaction.
Two others were indicted on counts of racketeering. Larry Wayne “Lil Larry” Edwards Jr., 28, of Bayside Road in Exmore, and Kardeem Andrew “Drew” Carpenter, 22, of Strawberry Street in Cape Charles, were each indicted on counts of racketeering, conspiracy to racketeer, burglary of A. W. Rayfield Mechanical LLC, stealing property belonging to Wayne Rayfield, and stealing property with the intent to sell. The incidents occurred between June 24 and 26, 2018. Officer Greg Rippon, of EPD, investigated.
Indictments regarding a firearm involved two local men.
William Geary Blankenship, 34, of Fox Court in Eastville, was indicted on a count of burglary while armed with a deadly weapon at the occupied home of James Joseph Brown, Nov. 12, 2018. Information about the case was given to the grand jury by Deputy Roger Pike, of NCSO.
The defendant told police “he usually goes into the house to get vic(tim) for work in the morning.” When he knocked, the inside door opened, so he opened the screen door and went inside. He was missing a .40 caliber revolver and thought Brown might have it since he last saw the firearm in his truck when Brown was riding with him. He said Brown was the “only person who could have taken it.”
Brown, 26, of Seaside Road in Cape Charles, was indicted on a count of stealing the gun. Brown denies committing the crime. Deputy Montego Johnson, of NCSO, gave information to the jury about that charge.
Also indicted were:
Yakima Taylor, 27, of Pennyville Road in Painter, on counts of forging and uttering checks Sep. 28, 2018. Deputy Christopher Forbes, of NCSO, investigated.
Richard Arvidson, 50, of Willis Wharf Road in Exmore, on two counts of issuing bad checks to cover payroll for Deadrise Composites LLC. The checks totaled $1,178 and were written in April and June 2018. Deputy Jacob Foisey, of NCSO, investigated.
Elisha Azel Corbin, 25, of James Allen Drive in Eastville, two counts of intentional damage of $1,000 or more to property belonging to the sheriff’s department and a count of eluding police, all on Oct. 25, 2018. Deputy Jacob Foisey, of NCSO, gave information to the grand jury.
Christina Dawn Huffman, 22, of Red Oak Court in Franktown, on a count of unauthorized use of a vehicle belonging to Dianna Espitia, Sept.11, 2018, and a count of possessing cocaine, Sept. 12. Trooper Glenn Neal investigated.
