by Jane Harper, Natalie Anderson
The charge is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The case was handled by a special prosecutor from Roanoke County after Chesapeake Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew Hamel recused himself from the investigation.
Newins — a Republican, local lawyer and former prosecutor for the city — was elected to council in November.
Her great aunt, Shirley B. Davis, filed a lawsuit against Newins two months before the election in which she claimed Newins stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in property and cash from her and her late husband over a period of several months, beginning in 2020.
The complaint said the thefts came after Newins persuaded Davis and her husband Bobby Davis — who was diagnosed with late-stage Alzheimer’s disease and advanced dementia before he died in March 2021 — to move in with Newins and her husband. Newins later got the couple to give her power of attorney over their financial accounts and had them sign over the deed to their longtime home, according to the lawsuit.
The three-bedroom, two-bath house is located on Kempsville Road in Virginia Beach and worth about $330,000, according to online estimates. City records show it’s owned by BACT Investments, LLC, with Newins listed as the company’s registered agent.
Attorney Kristin Paulding said in a statement released Tuesday that Newins plans to “diligently fight the charge and show that Amanda’s actions were appropriate and in no way rise to the level of financial exploitation.” The statement also called the lawsuit filed by Davis politically motivated.
“Amanda was practically raised by her uncle and the allegation that she financially exploited him, is absolutely untrue,” the statement said. “We look forward to the time that Amanda can finally tell her story.”
Newins lives with her husband in Chesapeake. According to the lawsuit, Newins forced Davis to move out of Newins’ home after Bobby Davis died, and Davis has been living with Newins’ mother ever since.
If Newins is convicted, she immediately would be suspended by the Virginia State Bar and required to appear at a hearing before its board to explain why her law license shouldn’t be further suspended or revoked, according to the bar’s professional guidelines.
It’s not clear whether Newins could continue serving on City Council. Interim City Attorney Catherine Lindley declined to comment Tuesday.
Mayor Rick West told The Virginian-Pilot on Tuesday “it’s just allegations.”
“I believe that the people of Chesapeake understand only one side of the story that’s been told about Amanda Newins,” West said. “And I don’t believe people in Chesapeake are going to come to any conclusions until the whole story is told. And that will come on (a) court date.”
Hamel, who was elected Chesapeake’s top prosecutor in 2021 after serving a term on the City Council, said in a statement Tuesday that Chesapeake police notified his office in September that the department was investigating Newins. He said he immediately petitioned the Circuit Court to appoint a special prosecutor.
“My office has taken no part in the charging decisions or the procedural process of this case,” Hamel said in the statement.
Several local Republicans publicly withdrew support from Newins after the lawsuit against her was filed last year, but many others remained on her side.
Hamel was among those who declined to support her. Others who joined him included the city’s sheriff, clerk of the court, treasurer, three council members and five School Board members. Continuing to support Newins were former U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes, two state senators, two state delegates, the city’s commissioner of the revenue, mayor, vice mayor, another council member and a School Board member.
Davis’ lawsuit
against Newins is scheduled to go to trial in December. Davis is seeking
$541,648 in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages. The
case was assigned to a visiting judge after all of Chesapeake’s Circuit
Court judges recused themselves.
Full Article & Source:
Chesapeake City Council member faces felony charge, is accused of stealing great aunt’s home
No comments:
Post a Comment