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Public Safety, Virginia

Virginia inmate to serve additional 18 months for felony assault of corrections officers

Crystal Graham
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A Virginia Department of Corrections inmate will serve an additional 18 months after pleading guilty to felony assault on Thursday in an incident at State Farm Correctional Center on Jan. 31.

Ronald Edward Whitehead, 35, allegedly became combative after staff observed him in an unauthorized area.

According to court documents, Whitehead punched officers multiple times. Three staff members received treatment at a local hospital. One employee sustained a dislocated knee from the assault.

Whitehead’s original sentence with the VADOC ended on Friday, March 22. On his release date,
Whitehead was placed into the custody of the Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office.

Whitehead’s case was heard in Powhatan County Circuit Court on April 25. In addition to the active prison sentence of one year and six months, Whitehead had 3 years and 6 months suspended.

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for nearly 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of Virginia Tonight, a nightly TV news show. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.