UPDATE, 10:30 a.m.:
James Lee Wolfe, Sr. was arraigned in a Powhatan courtroom Friday morning on five felony charges in connection with the brutal beating, kidnapping, and robbery of a woman Wednesday night. The victim is in serious condition at the hospital.
Wolfe is charged with malicious wounding; abduction; robbery; entering the victim's home with the intent to commit robbery; and arson. Detailed information on the case is below.
Wolfe is being held without bond. A preliminary hearing is set for March.
Stay with 8News for the latest on this developing story.
Information from the Powhatan Sheriff's Office:
At approximately 10:00 p.m. on January 25, 2012, a white male entered a Powhatan residence by force and robbed a female victim. By all appearances to law enforcement, this was a random act of violence. During the course of this robbery, the victim was beaten severely by a blunt object and cut with a sharp instrument. The suspect set the sofa inside the living room of the house on fire and then forced the victim out of the house and into his vehicle. He then proceeded to a bank in the Midlothian area of Chesterfield County where she was forced to withdraw $400. The suspect, later identified as James Lee Wolfe, Sr., 29 years of age of Amelia County, then proceeded east on US Route 60 and released the victim on the side of the road, east of Chesterfield Town Center. Passersby noticed the victim walking along the highway, obviously injured, and contacted Chesterfield Police Department. Victim was subsequently transported to a local hospital where she was able to describe the suspect as well as the vehicle to the police.
At approximately the same time , Chesterfield Police Department received a phone call from a customer in a convenience store on Midlothian Turnpike who advised that he had witnessed a suspicious white male purchasing gas with blood on his person as well as on the currency. Chesterfield PD was able to obtain video of the suspect as well as a vehicle and partial tag number and a statewide broadcast was transmitted. At approximately 01:15 a.m., January 26th, an Amelia County Sheriff's Office Deputy was dispatched in reference to a reckless driver. During his search for this driver, he observed a vehicle matching the description of both the reckless driver and the suspect is this case, traveling along US Route 307 in Amelia County. The Amelia Deputy stopped this vehicle and identified the driver as James Wolfe, Sr. Items belonging to the victim were found in the vehicle that Wolfe was operating. Wolfe was transported to Powhatan Sheriff's Office where he was charged with Breaking and Entering with the intent to rob, Robbery, Arson, Aggravated Malicious Wounding and Abduction. Injuries to the victim included cuts, bruises, a broken arm and possible skull fracture. At the time of this release, the victim is listed in serious condition.
POWHATAN COUNTY - An Amelia man is charged with beating, abducting, and robbing a woman late Wednesday night, and setting a fire at her home.
The Powhatan County Sheriff's Office says James Lee Wolfe, Sr., 29, of Amelia County, broke into the female victim's home in the 2100 block of Academy Road in Powhatan, then beat and cut the woman who lived there, demanding money. Investigators say he then abducted the victim and drove her into Chesterfield County, where he forced her to withdraw money from an ATM. The victim was found severely beaten along Route 60 in Chesterfield County, and was taken to a local hospital by ambulance.
Authorities say the woman was able to provide a description of the suspect and his vehicle. She also told investigators he had set a fire in her residence. Chesterfield Police put out a statewide broadcast, and Wolfe was located by an Amelia County deputy.
Wolfe has been charged with breaking and entering with the intent to commit robbery, robbery, abduction, aggravated malicious wounding and arson in Powhatan County, and robbery in Chesterfield County. He is being held without bond and will be arraigned in Powhatan General District Court on Friday.
Copyright 2012 by Young Broadcasting of Richmond
James Lee Wolfe, Sr.
