By Michael Copley
Staff Writer
mcopley@powhatantoday.com

Joseph William Kelley, the 19-year-old Powhatan resident who pleaded guilty to grand larceny for his part in the theft of a Powhatan Sheriff’s Deputy’s gun from a marked police car, avoided an active jail sentence because of the time he spent in jail after his arrest.

T. Noel Brooks, Kelley’s lawyer, told Circuit Judge James F. D’Alton Jr. the offense was “the result of his [Kelley’s] youth and untreated [attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder].”

Brooks said his client, who was 18 at the time, was not the person who took the gun from the deputy’s car, but said he was present – and “severely intoxicated” – when the crime occurred.

The gun, badge and several other items were stolen from Deputy H.S. Crawford’s vehicle July 30, 2010. Brooks said the crime was committed during a string vandalisms and thefts. The deputy’s car reportedly was parked at his residence.

“I was just young when I did this,” Kelley said. “I made some bad decisions.”

D’Alton sentenced Kelley to five years in prison with all but roughly three months suspended – the time Brooks said his client spent in jail after the arrest.