Teen gets 40 months in mob attack
Posted: November 17, 2012
The Winchester Star
WINCHESTER — Two men involved in a New Year’s Day mob attack in the city pleaded guilty Friday to charges stemming from the incident.
Mark Wheeler, 18, of Clear Brook, and Adrien Jackson, 20, of Oxen Hill, appeared separately in Winchester Circuit Court and were found guilty of different charges.
Wheeler, who was represented by attorney David Hensley, pleaded no contest to a felony malicious wounding charge and received 15 years in prison, with all but three years and four months suspended. He also must serve seven years on supervised probation and three years on unsupervised probation, and pay $7,506.76 in restitution.
Jackson, who appeared with attorney Gregory Bowman, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of assault and battery by mob.
According to online court records, he received 12 months in jail with all time suspended on each charge. He also must serve two years of unsupervised probation and pay $1,876.70 in restitution.
Judge John E. Wetsel Jr. presided over the cases, and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jason Caccamo prosecuted.
On Feb. 28, Winchester Police — with assistance from the Northwest Regional Gang Task Force — served warrants to four of the six individuals alleged to have been involved in the New Year’s Day attack, which unfolded in the area of Millwood and Opequon avenues.
Three people were injured in the assault, with one requiring hospitalization and facial reconstructive surgery.
According to authorities, a call reporting the incident came in at 2:35 a.m.
The victims were walking back from downtown Winchester when an SUV pulled up next to them.
“Words were exchanged,” Caccamo said at Wheeler’s hearing on Friday.
According to a previous police news release, statements taken from the victims and suspects conflict about what took place prior to the assault, and it is unclear how or if the parties involved knew each other.
Caccamo said the driver of the suspect vehicle came forward at the time of the incident.
— Contact Melissa Boughton at mboughton@winchesterstar.com