LOVINGSTON — A former Amherst County resident received a one-year suspended sentence Wednesday on charges stemming from a 2017 incident involving driving the wrong way on U.S. 29 in Nelson County and damaging a Virginia State Police vehicle.
Mary Tenhoopen-Jones, 76, was found guilty in December on a felony count of eluding and a felony count of property damage valued at more than $1,000. She also was convicted of one misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated and one infraction of driving the wrong way on a one-way highway.
In Nelson County Circuit Court on Wednesday, Tenhoopen-Jones testified she has lived in the area and run an accounting business for more than 30 years. She said she was having a difficult time leading up to the May 2017 incident: she found out she was being evicted, and she also had marital problems, she said. She said since the incident, she filed for divorce and has moved from Amherst County to Charlottesville.
“I never drank to excess before that, and I don’t anymore,” Tenhoopen-Jones said.
She said she would like the opportunity to continue running her business and contributing to the community.
“I learned my lesson, and I’ll never do it again,” Tenhoopen-Jones said.
Nelson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Daniel Rutherford told Judge J. Michael Gamble Tenhoopen-Jones passed a dozen cars as she drove the wrong way on U.S. 29 at about 10 p.m. May 2, 2017. Her car was stopped at the intersection of U.S. 29 and Virginia 6, when it struck a state police vehicle driven by Trooper Troy Hackenbracht, who had positioned his cruiser in the left-hand lane to block the car.
Rutherford said he recommended an active sentence of 3 months and 35 days.
Tenhoopen-Jones received a one-year suspended sentence for eluding under the condition she completes one year of supervised probation and two years of unsupervised probation. Gamble said the probation officer may require her to receive treatment for alcohol or substance abuse. Gamble also ordered her driver’s license be suspended for 30 days.
For the felony charge of property damage valued at more than $1,000, Gamble ordered a one-year suspended sentence and three years of probation. For property damage, Tenhoopen-Jones has to pay $2,250, Gamble said.
For the DUI, Gamble sentenced Tenhoopen-Jones to a suspended sentence of 30 days in jail and suspended her driver’s license for one year with restrictions, and she has to complete an alcohol and safety program. During that year, Tenhoopen-Jones is restricted to drive to work, to medical appointments, probation officer appointments and church services.
Gamble also ordered Tenhoopen-Jones to pay $25 for the infraction of driving the wrong way on a one-way highway.
“As best as I can tell, [Tenhoopen-Jones] has been a productive citizen and provided good service to the community,” Gamble said during the hearing. “Since there were no injuries, that’s appropriate.”
The sentencings will not go into effect until after Tenhoopen-Jones’ appeals for the two felony charges are complete, Rutherford said. She is not appealing the other charges, said Tom Phillips Jr., her lawyer.
Emily Sides covers Nelson County for The News & Advance. Reach her at (434) 385-5565.