A jury trial was set for January for three traffic charges against attorney James William “Bill” Fletcher III in Rappahannock County Circuit Court last Thursday after a last-minute decision by Fletcher to not take a plea deal.
“My client has made it known he’s innocent and wants his day in court,” Fletcher’s attorney Whitson Robinson told Judge Grace Carroll, after discussions with his client and special prosecutor Daniel White of Greene County.
Fletcher, 73, who lives in Woodville, was found not guilty of driving while intoxicated and reckless driving at a February District Court trial — charges tied to a traffic stop in June 2024 at a Blue Rock polo match which resulted in Fletcher’s arrest in front of about 100 onlookers. He was, however, found guilty of refusing to submit to a blood/breath alcohol test — a conviction he is appealing to Circuit Court.
In an uncommon judicial move, his appeal will be accompanied at trial by his two reckless driving charges, which stem from separate traffic stops around the Christmas holiday last year. The same judge and jury will rule on all three charges.
White told the judge he “thought this was a plea day,” but after discussions that morning, he was informed Fletcher would like the charges brought in front of a jury.
“If someone wants a jury trial, they should have a jury trial,” White added. He said the prosecution had no objection to the request.
The trial will take place Jan. 27.
Charges not prosecuted in Bill Fletcher’s home break in
The prosecution decided not to pursue charges against three people accused of breaking into Fletcher’s home in August after they were allegedly caught in the act by Fletcher’s son, Jamie.
According to Rappahannock District Court records, Virginia State Police officers were dispatched to 80 Fletchers Mill Road on the morning of Aug. 13 after receiving a report of breaking and entering between 6:30-7 a.m. Two suspects — Randy Crews, 56, and Jennifer Austin, 42, both from Richmond — were arrested on the scene.
Later, charges were brought against a third person, Aleah Alban, also from Richmond.
According to a criminal complaint, the Fletchers told responding officers that the intruders were caught “sneaking through the house” early in the morning while they were sleeping. Items and money were also taken from a vehicle parked outside the home.
Special prosecutor Christopher Dorsey, an assistant commonwealth’s attorney of Henrico County, declined to comment on why none of the charges were prosecuted.
