Man Sentenced to 1 ½ Years for Driving Under Influence of Drugs, Possessing Firearm as Felon After Driving Wrong Way on I-64 in 2021
NORFOLK, Va. – Bradley Dewith Rolle Jr., 30, was sentenced in Norfolk Circuit Court on Friday to one and a half years in prison for driving in the wrong direction on the highway under the influence of drugs and for being in possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
Just before 6 a.m. on Dec. 13, 2021, Mr. Rolle was driving in the wrong direction on Interstate 64 near the interchange with Interstate 264 and pulled over into a shoulder lane. A Virginia State Police trooper noticed Mr. Rolle’s vehicle while it was stationary with the engine still running and facing the wrong direction. The trooper spoke to Mr. Rolle and, observing signs that Mr. Rolle was impaired, had Mr. Rolle do field sobriety tests. Mr. Rolle was unsteady on his feet and not following all the trooper’s instructions during the tests, and he was taken into custody for driving while intoxicated.
When troopers searched Mr. Rolle’s car, they observed a pistol under the driver’s seat. Mr. Rolle has previous felony convictions that prohibit him from possessing a firearm. After arresting Mr. Rolle, the troopers swore out a warrant to draw Mr. Rolle’s blood. Forensic testing of Mr. Rolle’s blood showed that he was under the influence of a combination of cocaine and THC.
Mr. Rolle pleaded guilty on Aug. 28, 2023, to possessing a firearm as a convicted non-violent felon and to misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. Judge Robert B. Rigney took the plea agreement under advisement pending Mr. Rolle’s sentencing hearing.
On Friday, Judge Rigney accepted Mr. Rolle’s guilty plea and sentenced Mr. Rolle to one and a half years in prison, with three and a half years suspended on the conditions that Mr. Rolle complete a substance abuse program, complete three years of uniform good behavior and supervised probation, have his license suspended, and use an ignition interlock device when his driving privileges are reinstated.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Graham M. Stolle prosecuted Mr. Rolle’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Virginia State Trooper Andrew L. Smith led the investigation.
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