Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced that Joshua Allen Ripley, 36 years old, was sentenced today by Circuit Court Judge A. Bonwill Shockley to a term of one (1) year in prison after finding that he had violated the terms of his probation. Ripley had faced up to five (5) years, which was the remaining unserved portion of his previous sentence for charges of Involuntary Manslaughter and Hit and Run. Although the Commonwealth asked the Court to impose the entire five (5) years, the Court re-suspended four (4) years of his time, leaving him just one (1) year to serve.
Ripley was originally sentenced on December 6, 2000, by Circuit Court Judge Patricia L. West to a prison term of 15 years with ten (10) years suspended for charges of Involuntary Manslaughter and Felony Hit and Run. The charges resulted from the death of “motorist assistant” R. Jack Kramer who had stopped on I-264 near the Witchduck Road exit to help a stranded motorist with a flat tire at midnight on June 17, 1999. As Mr. Kramer retrieved a tool from his DOT truck, an intoxicated Ripley struck the truck and Mr. Kramer. Mr. Kramer was pronounced dead at the scene. When the Virginia State Police arrived, Ripley fled on foot, but was captured nearby.
“This defendant has violated the Court’s orders twice by doing the very thing that killed Jack Kramer,” Bryant said. “Two separate five-year prison terms didn’t deter him, so it’s difficult to understand how the time he has to serve now drops by eighty (80) percent.”
Ripley was first released from the penitentiary in March of 2004. His supervision was transferred to the State of Nevada Probation and Parole. During his previous violation of probation hearing in July of 2006, Judge Shockley heard evidence that on December 25, 2005, Ripley was arrested for Assault and Battery stemming from an incident with his then-girlfriend. Ripley admitted that alcohol played a factor in that incident, and that he had been convicted of Assault and Battery. Judge Shockley imposed a five-year sentence at that time.
In September of 2010, Ripley was again released from prison and had his supervision transferred to Nevada. At today’s second probation violation hearing, the Court heard evidence from Ripley’s probation officer and a Las Vegas police officer. Ripley admitted using marijuana daily. He was caught trespassing and was drunk and disorderly when officers encountered him.
Ripley has prior convictions for Involuntary Manslaughter, felony Hit and Run, Assault and Battery, Possess/Use Drug Paraphernalia, Possess Drug: Interstate Commerce, Petit Larceny (Attempt), misdemeanor Hit and Run, and various traffic offenses.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney David W. Laird. Please contact Macie Pridgen if additional information is desired.