Drunken Anger + Brass Knuckles=Jail Sentence for Kenbridge Man

James Stith Jr.

James Louis Stith, Jr., a 39-year-old Kenbridge man, pled guilty recently in Lunenburg Circuit Court to Possession of Concealed Weapon by a Felon, namely brass knuckles, and probably avoided a significant prison sentence because of the prompt and efficient response by former Kenbridge Police Officer Daniel Peacock (who is now with the Lunenburg Sheriff’s Office), according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Clement.

Stith was sentenced to five years in prison with all suspended except 15 days in jail.  According to Clement, on April 20th this year, Stith had been drinking and became very upset when he heard about an alleged assault on his adult sister by her husband.  Stith stormed out of the residence with a set of brass knuckles on his hand, threatening to beat the man.  A quick call to the Sheriff’s Office led the dispatcher to call Officer Peacock who was informed of where Stith could be found walking, a description of his clothing, and the fact that he had the brass knuckles on his hand.

Just two minutes later, Peacock saw Stith and confronted him.  Peacock saw the brass knuckles on his hand, but then Stith slipped them off and put them in his pocket, thus concealing them and thus committing a felony, according to Clement.  When Peacock demanded that Stith drop them, Stith said, “I ain’t got nothing.”  Eventually Stith complied and was placed under arrest.  Peacock noticed indicators of alcohol intoxication.

Stith will also have conditions of good behavior for five years, warrantless searches and seizures, and no alcohol for one year.

Stith’s prior felony history included two counts of Driving as an Habitual Offender in 2006 with one in Lunenburg and one in Mecklenburg, Felony DUI and Habitual Offender convictions in 2001in Lunenburg, and a Bomb Threat in 1995 in Mecklenburg County.