By Linda Cicoira — Probable cause was found last week in Accomack General District Court to certify six felony charges against a man accused of first-degree murder.
The grand jury will likely decide in December whether Bronta Jamar Ames, 22, of Killmontown Road in Melfa, should stand trial for credit card larceny, credit card fraud, conspiracy to commit credit card fraud, and three counts of grand larceny. A count of attempted grand larceny was dismissed. The offenses occurred May 28 and involved property belonging to Kathline Stauffer.
A preliminary hearing regarding the charges of murder and use of a firearm in connection with the May 29 shooting death of Alvin Lee “Derek” Rogers, 40, of Mill Run Lane in Belle Haven, is set for Nov. 18.
After a complaint of shots being fired on Boggs Road, in Painter, was received by the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office on May 29, deputies found Rogers’ body inside a vehicle. A medical examiner determined Rogers died from a gunshot wound to the torso.
Court records state there “appeared to be a bullet wound in his chest” and “three bullet holes in the windshield of the vehicle.”
In September, Allison Elaine Stauffer, 20, of Keller, pleaded guilty to obtaining a credit card by false pretenses, three counts of grand larceny, and three counts of credit card fraud in connection with March incidents. That property belonged to Kathline Stauffer. It was unclear if the two women are related.
Allison Stauffer was charged in October with being an accessory to murder and robbery in connection with Rogers’ death. The accessory charge involves “receiving, relieving, comforting, or assisting Bronta Ames after knowing that such person had committed a homicide offense punishable by death or as a Class 2 felony.” She was also charged with being an accessory before the fact in an attempt to rob Rogers of marijuana by “putting the victim in fear of serious bodily harm, threats or by presenting a firearm or other deadly weapon.”
