Carpenter Sentenced for Car Theft and Wreck

Staff Report

KENBRIDGE – Derrick George Carpenter, a 20-year-old Lunenburg man was convicted recently of stealing a motor vehicle from a convenience store in Kenbridge.

Carpenter was sentenced to five years in prison with all time suspended except 20 days. He was also convicted of Driving on a Suspended License.

According to Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Clement, the incident occurred on July 10, 2016 at approximately 2:30 in the morning. Kenbridge Police Officer Aaron Stokes received a call that a local man had parked his 2006 Dodge Charger in front of A-Plus Convenience Store and had gone inside. In the meantime, a fight occurred outside. As the owner of the car attempted to keep people away from his car, Carpenter jumped into the vehicle and took off with it. An individual identified Carpenter and later had a telephone conversation with him during which Carpenter told him he had wrecked the car near Kenbridge Elementary School.

Carpenter had left the scene, but police made the arrest later that day. Carpenter at first denied his involvement to the police, but pled guilty in court.

Just over $5000 in damage was done to the car which was covered by insurance.

In addition to the jail sentence, Carpenter must also be of good behavior for five years, on supervised probation for one year, subject to warrantless searches and seizures for five years, and have no contact with the victim. He was also ordered to pay restitution of any amount that is not covered by the insurance.