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The following individuals were indicted by a Rockbridge County grand jury on Sept. 5: Layne Walker Clements, 20, on one felony count of statutory burglary on April 30 and one felony count of grand larceny of a motor vehicle and one felony count of destruction of property on May 16.
Rosita Lane, 54, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on March 6.
Giovani Andujar, 38, for one felony count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, one felony count of eluding police and one felony count of hit and run with an injured victim on May 27.
Courtney Dawn Lynn, 24, for two felony counts of assault on a law enforcement officer on May 23.
Blake Jeffry Baumgart, 30, for four felony counts of assault on a law enforcement officer and one felony count of attempted escape on Jan. 11.
Dylan Shane Conner, 28, for one felony count of damaging public utilities on May 28.
Kaila Shea Woodward, 28, for two felony counts of assault on a law enforcement officer on Sept. 24, 2022.
Samuel Brent Martin, 41, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Feb. 10.
Ethan Matthew Lunsford, for one felony count of driving while intoxicated (third or subsequent offense within 10 years) on March 11.
Kirsten Nicole Ingram, 23, for one felony count of distribution of a schedule III drug and one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Jan. 18.
Rachel Mae Ramsey, 53, for one felony count of sexual abuse of an animal between Sept. 1, 2022, and March 15, 2023.
Charity Elizabeth Beverly, 28, for one felony count of obstruction of justice between Nov. 21, 2022 ,and April 18, 2023.
Hannah Marie Carey, 26, for one felony count of obtaining drugs (marijuana) by forgery or fraud on July 11, 2022.
Dennis Warren Benedict, 52, for one felony count of destruction of property on Nov. 21, 2022.
Mantell Angelo Legrand, 38, for one felony count of eluding police, one felony count of assault on a law enforcement officer, one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (cocaine) and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving on Dec. 12, 2020, and two felony counts of failure to appear in court on a felony charge on Feb. 3, 2021, and March 26, 2021.
Rape Charge
Certified
Felony charges of rape and object sexual penetration against a former Washington and Lee University student have been certified to a grand jury.
Ricardo Vergara, 20, of Nashville, Tenn., is facing two felony charges and one misdemeanor charge of sexual battery in connection with an incident involving another student on Jan. 14. Following an investigation by the Lexington Police Department, Vergara was arrested on Feb. 26 and was expelled from the university.
A preliminary hearing on the charges was scheduled in Rockbridge County General District Court for Sept. 11, but Vergara waived the hearing as part of an agreement to keep a plea offer from the commonwealth attorney’s office on the table. Both the prosecution and the defense stipulated that there was enough evidence to certify the charges to the grand jury and Judge Christopher Billias certified the charges.
The next Rockbridge County grand jury meets on Nov. 6, at which point it will hear evidence against Vergara and determine if there is enough evidence to warrant an indictment. Following the indictment, Vergara will either stand trial or accept a plea and be sentenced.
In the interim, Vergara has been instructed to continue abiding by the conditions of his bond, which include a prohibition on entering the property of any college campus, not having any contact with the victim, and to return to Tennessee, only coming back to Rockbridge County for court appearances.
