Vandals sentenced

Published 8:06 pm Thursday, August 6, 2015

Three of the five people who were charged in an October 2014 spree of destruction in Suffolk and Isle of Wight have been sentenced for their Suffolk charges in the last two weeks.

Brothers Toby D. Underhill, 30, and Aaron M. Underhill, 25, each received two years and six months to serve on charges including burglary and destruction of property.

Noah C. Rivera received two years and five months for similar charges. Some charges for all three were not prosecuted as part of a plea agreement.

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Blane Sebastian Washington Jr., 25, and Stephanie Marie Drames, 33, remain to be sentenced, Washington on Aug. 14 and Drames on Oct. 19.

The crime spree included theft and damage at sports facilities and restaurants throughout Suffolk and Windsor, including Suffolk’s Sleepy Hole Golf Course and the Suffolk Youth Athletic Association.

At the golf course, the group broke in early on Oct. 14 and caused more than $100,000 in damage.

According to prosecutor Jeff James during Thursday’s sentencing hearing for Toby Underhill, the group broke the glass doors on several refrigerators, causing the food to spoil; stopped up the drain on the industrial sink in the kitchen, which flooded the kitchen, dining room and pro shop; helped themselves to food; and destroyed golf carts.

At the Suffolk Youth Athletic Association later that week, they kicked in the doors to the concession stand, slung food and supplies about, and stole food, sports gear and cash, including a significant amount that had been raised for the family of one of its players who was suffering from a medical condition.

During his sentencing hearing Thursday, Toby Underhill said most of them had been drinking on the nights they committed the crimes.

“It’s ridiculous, and I feel terrible about it,” he said during his testimony.

Richard Malone, his former employer at a construction company, is willing to hire him back, Malone testified. That will help him pay the $100,745.04 in restitution the five co-defendants owe in Suffolk.

“I’m going to make sure I pay every bit of it back,” Toby Underhill said. “It kind of seemed like the thing to do at the time. I do understand it was stupid and reckless and flat-out wrong.”

“This was one heck of a spree, I have to say, that you and your co-defendants went on,” Circuit Court Judge Robert H. Sandwich Jr. said just before pronouncing the sentence. “I think you are truly remorseful.”

In Isle of Wight, Washington, Drames and both Underhills all received completely suspended sentences. Rivera was not charged in Isle of Wight.