Release from Louisa County Commonwealth's Attorney Rusty McGuire:
Louisa – Today, Louisa Commonwealth's Attorney Rusty McGuire announced the conviction of Brandon Fields, 36, of Louisa. The court found Fields guilty of failing to stop at the scene of an accident in February 1994.
The evidence showed on February 18, 1994 James Banks, Jr. died after sustaining injury to his head on Route 22 in Louisa. He was buried in an unmarked grave and the family spent seventeen years not knowing who hit their father or what happened on that February night. In 2010, Trooper Richard Shively of the Virginia State Police picked up a cold case with intention of solving the case. He developed a moving press release with his communication department and a viewer saw the news story. The citizen called in a tip that directed the Trooper to Brandon Fields.
Trooper Shively ultimately interviewed the Defendant and learned that he was on his way to buy some speakers on February 18, 1994 on Route 22. When he came over a hill on 22 there was something in the road and Fields attempted to avoid it but was unsuccessful. Fields returned to the scene and never spoke of what he saw again until he was interviewed by Trooper Shively almost seventeen years later.
In court Fields stated showed substantial remorse while when he said "above all else I apologize to the Banks family. I know the missed holidays and joy cannot be reclaimed." In addition to his year in jail Fields paid the $6,000 in funeral expenses, ordered and paid for a tombstone to be installed at Banks' grave and he will place flowers on the grave on the anniversary of Mr. Banks' death for the rest of his life.
"Trooper Shively and the other members of the Virginia State Police did an outstanding job in putting this case together. I hope that some good will come out of these tragic circumstances. A young man was found dead on the road in Goochland 10 miles away from this incident in 2010. Maybe somebody will hear about this case and help give the family of Billy Maxwell, Jr. closure in that cold case said McGuire." Anybody with information on the Billy Maxwell, Jr. case should call Richmond Metro Area crime stoppers at (804) 780-1000.
