By Linda Cicoira — Nearly a dozen people have been accused of committing felonies in Accomack earlier this month, according to records filed in the county’s general district court.
Gary Louis Mancusa, 52, of Main Street in Exmore, was charged with strangling Johan Annis on Sept 26. Annis told Deputy C. Hodgson, of the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO), that he was in a parking lot after work speaking with a few colleagues when Mancusa drove up, got out of the truck, and accused him of “talking bad about him to a few people.” Mancusa grabbed Annis by his neck and squeezed to the point Annis said he “thought he was going to black out.”
“I did observe significant marks on the neck of Johan,” wrote Hodgson. Later, Mancusa “confessed to grabbing a hold of Johan’s neck.”
On a bail determination form, a magistrate wrote Mancusa was “polite, forthright, remorseful and responsive.” Mancusa was arrested the same day. He is being held without bond. A preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 25.
In another case, Jose Diaz, 27, of North Capital Street in Washington, D.C., was charged with rape on Sept. 27, on Chincoteague. Diaz is accused of covering the victim’s mouth, choking her, and threatened to kill her during the rape, according to the record. Investigator C.A. McPherson handled the case. Diaz was arrested the same day. He is being held without bond.
Dontrell Strand, 31, of Sycamore Street in Painter, was accused of embezzling $11,275 belonging to his employer, K&J Transportation LLC, between April 3 and July 17. Strand was arrested Sept. 26. An unsecured bond was set at $5,000. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Dec. 9. Investigator M. Patterson, of ACSO, handled the case.
Ronald Joseph Judge, 41, of Wayne Road on Chincoteague, was charged with possession of a controlled substance on Sept. 30. He was arrested the same day and is being held without bond. Deputy K.A. Reese, of ACSO, investigated. A preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 16.
Mariander Drummond, 41, of Hill Street in Onancock, was charged with the robbery and theft of property from Melody Jackson on Sept. 10. Drummond was arrested Sept. 29. She is being held without bail. Deputy T.M. Marks, of ACSO, investigated. A preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 9.
Jonathan Dwight Brown, 32, of 123rd Street in Harlem, NY., was charged with stealing property valued at $500 or more from Walmart, in Onley, on Sept. 29. He was arrested the same day. Brown is being held without bond. A preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 9. Marks investigated.
Randy Torres, 28, of Stockton Avenue in Greenbackville, was accused of burglary at night at the home of Pearl Merritt, of Greenbackville, on Sept. 2. Torres was also accused of petty larceny of Merritt’s property. He was arrested the next day. According to a checklist for bond, Torres confessed to the crimes. A secured $1,500 bond was set. Hodgson investigated. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Nov. 4.
Richard David Brown II, 34, of High Beach Court East in New Market, Md., was charged with eluding police, neglect and disregard for the life of a child, both felonies, and a misdemeanor DUI. The incidents occurred Sept. 21.
Trooper D.W. Wallace stated that he was on Route 175, or Chincoteague Road, when he observed a vehicle going 77 mph in a 45 mph zone. As the trooper pursued the vehicle, it went up to 108 mph and later went back down to 75. Eventually, the driver was taken into custody. Brown had “glassy eyes, a strong odor of alcoholic beverage, and slurred speech.” A breath test showed him .13 grams per 210 liters of breath. The legal limit is .08. His passenger was a five-month-old child. Brown is being held on a $10,000 secured bond.
Zachary Justin Peterson, 39, of Willow Street on Chincoteague, was accused of stealing a pressure washer on Sept. 16 that was valued at $500 or more and belonged to Thomas Harmon III. Peterson was arrested the next day. Records state he is wanted by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, in Kentucky, for child abuse. Peterson is being held without bond. A preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 25. Deputy J. Sharp, of ACSO, investigated.
Larry Olanda Ayers, 56, of Lankford Highway in Parksley, was charged with possession of Schedule I or II drug on Sept. 15. He was arrested the same day. Deputy K.A. Reese, of ACSO, investigated. A secured bail was set at $1,000.
