A Decade of Punishment for Killing A
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Circulation 14,000 Free March 16, 2018 A Decade Of Punishment For Killing a Boy By Linda Cicoira Nicholas Martinez White told authori- ties he planned to get a haircut with his “homeboy” on his 23rd birthday in Octo- ber 2015. Instead, he wound up killing a 13-year-old middle school boy, the broth- er of his teenage girlfriend, in a shotgun standoff at the house where they all lived near Keller. Thursday, in Accomack Circuit Court, he was sentenced to a total of 30 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and use of a sawed-off shotgun in the death of Breonya Collins, a seventh grader at Nandua Middle School. All but 10 years was suspended. Judge W. Revell Lewis gave him 10 Photo by Stefanie Jackson years for the manslaughter with three suspended and 20 years for the firearm Students Ask ‘Me Next?’ at Walkout to Protest Gun Violence offense with 17 years suspended. He was Northampton High and Middle School students participated in a walkout demonstration at 10 a.m. Wednesday. It ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution to the was part of a national movement to honor the victims of the Feb. 14 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shoot- Virginia Victim’s Fund. Upon release, he ing in Florida and to call for stronger gun control and safer schools. The demonstration lasted 17 minutes, one min- will be on indefinite supervised probation ute for each of the victims, whose names were read aloud. Before returning to class, students marched once around and good behavior for the rest of his life. the football field and chanted, “No more gun violence!” More photos on Page 28. “Mr. White you killed another person,” Lewis said. “You went and got the shot- gun. It was loaded. … That’s about as se- Attempted Capital Murder Charge Certified to Grand Jury rious as it can get … it’s a killing … you By Linda Cicoira the victim’s testimony that he amend- tocks that night. Dezarae Smith, 19, need to be punished for taking the life of A teenager was identified Monday ed the charge to attempted capital was hit in the foot. The two were going another human being and also our soci- in Accomack General District Court murder and certified the count to the back to his car, which was parked at ety needs to know we’re not going to toler- by a police informant as the assail- grand jury. his grandmother’s nearby home when ate this kind of behavior.” ant who shot him and his girlfriend as “He said he saw him shoot,” Phillips they heard noise in the bushes. “It was a terrible accident,” White had they were leaving a Painter area home said. “That’s pretty good evidence.” When he turned to look, Johnson earlier told the judge. “And I’m sorry. last Halloween night. The preliminary hearing is the said, he saw Rogers with a gun. “I saw I wish I could take this day back. Most Roquan Lee’teq (Cake) Rogers, 19, of prosecution’s chance to show probable the dreads … he got a haircut (since of all I’d like to apologize to Rosetta, the Benjamin Banneker Street in Exmore, cause. Evidence is not typically pre- then) … I saw his teeth, his mouth. … mother … I’m sorry. I know they can’t was initially charged with attempted sented by the defense until later. I knew his walk. I know who shot me,” forgive. Nobody’s … going to forgive that. murder for hire. Retired Judge Robert Nathaniel Johnson, 31, told the the victim added. Johnson also added (Continued on Page 9) Phillips was impressed enough with court he was shot in the back and but- (Continued on Page 12) 2 • EASTERN SHORE POST • MARCH 16, 2018 Sullivan Exits Cape Charles Town Council Too Late To Replace in May Election By Stefanie Jackson held March 8 to adopt a resolution 153 votes. give the harbormaster and his staff Cape Charles officials are vacat- petitioning Northampton County One of the last town council meet- enough time to turn things around,” ing their seats as monumental deci- Circuit Court to schedule a special ings Sullivan attended was a Feb. therefore, it was “premature” to put sions are mounting on their desks, election to fill the position on Nov. 1 work meeting, when council dis- out a request for proposal for an out- on issues such as the future of the 6, the same date as the next general cussed hiring an outside company side management company. town harbor. election. to manage the harbor. It’s an issue Councilwoman Joan Natali dis- In less than six weeks, three Cape Sullivan’s replacement cannot be “near and dear to many people’s agreed with criticism of the harbor- Charles officials announced their chosen at the May 1 election, since hearts,” staff is quoted as saying in master, who she said was “doing a departures, with Councilwoman Do- her resignation occurred less than meeting minutes. good job with repairs and mainte- ra Sullivan being the most recent. 90 days from the election date. At Revenue from the harbor has de- nance and keeping expenses down.” Her four-year term expires in 2020. press time, appointment of an inter- clined, though other tourist revenue, She had “mixed emotions,” but was Mayor George Proto disclosed dur- im council member was on the agen- such as transient occupancy tax- unopposed to submitting an RFP, as ing the Jan. 18 town council meeting da for the next regular town meet- es and meals taxes, has increased. were Councilmen Steve Bennett and that he would not pursue a second ing, March 15. Council acknowledged it changed Andy Buccholz. Vice Mayor Chris term at the May 1 elections, nor was Sullivan first joined Cape Charles the method for calculating slip rent- Bannon also approved of beginning it ever his intention to serve more town council in October 2002, when als in 2017, contributing to harbor the RFP process, though he preferred than one term. she was appointed to replace David revenue losses. to keep management “in house.” Later that evening, during closed Flora, who had resigned. She com- But it was argued that a man- Proto asked Manuel to draft an session, Town Manager Brent Manu- pleted his term in 2004, and was agement company could better mar- RFP for future consideration by el underwent a performance evalua- elected for another two years. In ket and promote the harbor, which council. tion. One week later, Jan. 25, a spe- 2006, Sullivan was elected mayor of lacks curb appeal and needs major cial meeting was held; during the Cape Charles and served a four-year improvements, such as landscaping. closed session, Manuel submitted term. She was re-elected in 2010, During the current harbor master’s his resignation effective April 6. and served four more years, ending first year, many maintenance issues Dora Sullivan resigned effec- June 30, 2014. were discovered which were not im- Visit the Post tive immediately on Feb. 26, citing Sullivan retired in 2014, but ran mediately addressed, council said. “changes that have occurred in my for council again in 2016 and won According to meeting minutes, on Facebook personal life.” A special meeting was one of the three available seats with Sullivan stated, “The town did not and “Like” us ce Theatre Pres Pala ents: Do you have trouble The hearing in noise? 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