NEWSOMS
A former Newsoms police officer who was arrested in September on charges related to getting money under false pretenses, began his time in jail early Monday evening.

Douglas Davis Jr., 49, recently took a plea agreement during his day in court in Sussex County. His attorney, Jack Randall of Randall|Page in Courtland, said his client decided it was in his best interest to take the deal.

The bargain is that Davis will face only one felony count instead of five for the aforementioned charge. That could have meant three years imprisonment, but conviction is delayed chiefly on condition of exemplary behavior for three years. In addition to court costs, he also has to pay $5,000 in restitution to the Town of Waverly, where he also worked. Should Davis fulfill that bargain, the felony charge would be reduced to a misdemeanor.

The four felony charges have been reduced to misdemeanors, with one count requiring six months jail time. The first 30 days are to be served at Riverside Regional Jail in Prince George, and thereafter Davis would be eligible for work release or serving on weekends.

In February 2014, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Chesapeake Field Office began looking into Davis following a request from the Waverly Police Department, where he served. He was also working for the Newsoms Police Department, which he started in January 2011. A resident of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, Davis was also with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina.

Walter J. Mason, a former two-term mayor of Waverly, commented on the matter in an email:

Doug Davis has pled guilty to several misdemeanors and no contest to a related felony for obtaining funds under false pretenses while employed as a police officer by the Town of Waverly.

In late 2013 during my administration as mayor, Mr. Davis was caught in a police department-wide audit clocking time he did not work. Mr. Davis was reprimanded and counseled in proper procedure. However, he continued the practice leaving me no choice but to suspend him without pay from the town police force in February 2014.

The matter was referred to Lyndia Ramsey, the Sussex County Commonwealth’s Attorney, and the Virginia State Police conducted an extensive investigation. Prince George Commonwealth’s Attorney Jay Paul was appointed special prosecutor and Mr. Davis was subsequently indicted on five felony counts and one misdemeanor.

Mr. Davis pled out Monday and has been convicted of stealing from the Town of Waverly. I concur with Special Prosecutor Paul that today’s outcome shows no one is above the law.

I strongly encourage Mr. Davis to apologize to the Town of Waverly and make restitution in full to show his sincerity and remorse.