Women Plead Guilty to Stealing

Completely Unrelated Crimes Happen On Same Date

In a bizarre set of coincidences, two women, both from the Richmond area, both in their 20’s, on the same date, in the same county, took advantage of relationships, stole jewelry, pawned the items at shops in the Richmond area, and ended up in Lunenburg Circuit Court on the same day. Otherwise the crimes were completely unconnected and the two women had no connection, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Clement.

Rachel Radford

Rachel Nicole Radford, age 23, of 2731 Kingsland Rd., Richmond, Virginia, and Shannon Marie Miller, age 28, of 9721 Olde Milbrooke Way, Glen Allen, Virginia in Henrico County, were charged with Grand Larceny of  jewelry by the Lunenburg Sheriff’s Office for offenses that occurred on January 27, 2013.

Radford’s offense occurred at her grandmother’s house on Juniper Creek Road in Lunenburg County.  The 74-year-old grandmother reported that she was missing a wedding band, an engagement ring, and a diamond cluster ring. She said her granddaughter was the only other person to have a key to her lockbox.

Investigator Michael Landry ran the suspect’s name through a computerized database for pawn shops, and found that Radford had pawned seven rings.  An independent appraiser set the value at $775, but Radford had obtained $95 for them, and even had her grandmother give her a ride to the pawn shop. The grandmother had no idea at that time that the rings were missing and being sold by Radford.              Radford treated her grandmother at a fast-food establishment afterwards. When interviewed by Landry, Radford confessed.

Shannon Miller

Deputy Sheriff Jenna Stugart investigated the other complaint from a 27-year-old female on Newcomb Bridge Road, Chase City, that she was missing a ring, two pendants, and a pair of diamond earrings, valued at approximately $750.  She said she had just reconnected with a female friend from high school named Shannon Miller.  She said Miller came to her house for the first time on January 27th.  She said she had to leave to run an errand, but allowed Miller to stay at her house to use the computer.

When she returned, she noticed some rings on the floor, and picked them up, and expressed aloud her concern that she could not find the ring with a blue topaz.  Miller said nothing, and the victim did not even suspect her at that point. The victim gave Miller some clothes, and then later went to South Hill to hang out.

It wasn’t until a boyfriend of Miller told the victim that Miller takes things and pawns them at AmeriPawn in Richmond that the victim realized what Miller had done.

Lt. Landry contacted the pawn shop and obtained photos of some of the jewelry and Miller’s identification and receipt for $103.  Most of the jewelry was recovered and returned to the victim.  Miller paid an additional $250 to the victim in restitution.

According to Clement, in both cases, because of the willingness of the grandmother and friend to allow the defendants to avoid felony convictions, and because Miller had only one misdemeanor conviction in 2010 for Profane Language on the Phone, and because Radford had only one misdemeanor conviction for Possession of Paraphernalia for Marijuana, each was allowed to enter guilty pleas to the felony charges of Grand Larceny, but to have the cases deferred for adjudication until August 4, 2014.  If they successfully complete all conditions, they will be found guilty of the misdemeanor of Petit Larceny and sentenced to 12 months with all suspended.  However, if they are unsuccessful, they will be convicted of the felony and sentenced by the court.

Their conditions include 100 hours of community service, good behavior, supervised probation, substance abuse counseling, staying off the property of the pawn shops and Miller to have no contact with her victim, warrantless searches, and restitution if not already paid.