A Louisa County man is behind bars, 18 years after the crime he committed. Thirty-six-year-old Brandon Fields admitted his guilt in court Wednesday for a hit and run that killed John Banks in 1994.
Fields was just 18-years-old on that night. Now, he is a husband and father with a good job. He sobbed in court as he apologized for the secret he kept for 16 years.
For the victim's family, his guilt finally brings closure. Walking through the cemetery where her father lays, Kendra Banks said, "I imagined my life - growing up - having my dad around forever." Every time the man responsible for his death goes to court she says she visits her fathers grave.
"You don't have your dad around - the person who's supposed to protect you for the rest of your life, the person who's supposed to be there for you all the time," said Banks.
On the night of February 18, 1994, John Banks ran his moped off Louisa Road near Trevilians. The accident tossed him onto the road near Route 33. A pick-up came by, hit Banks, and kept going, leaving him to die.
Until two years ago, the driver of that pick-up remained nameless. That is when Virginia State Police received a tip that the driver was Brandon Fields.
Louisa County Commonwealth's Attorney Rusty McGuire said, "For 18 years, Mr. Fields lived with the guilt."
Wednesday, prosecutors reduced the felony hit and run charge to a misdemeanor and Fields pleaded guilty. A judge sentenced him to the maximum year in jail.
"No one wanted to see Mr. Fields not have the opportunity to provide for his family any more. However, there needed to be some punishment to make him accountable for his actions," said McGuire.
In court, tears choked up Fields as he struggled through a statement apologizing to the Banks family saying "I desperately wish I had made different decisions that night. I was young. I was scared."
"There was a difficult task that took place today. But justice was served," added McGuire.
Fields has already paid $6,000 in restitution to the family - covering funeral expenses and paying to put a permanent tombstone on Banks' grave. He will also place flowers on the grave site every year on the anniversary of the accident for the rest of his life.
Kendra Banks says she never sought someone to blame but believes justice is finally served for her father, adding, "Our family has received closure today."
In court, prosecutors made the point that if Fields had just stopped at the scene that night, he wouldn't have faced charges, because it was just a tragic accident.
Louisa County Press Release
February 22, 2012
Man Guilty in Death 18 Years Later
- Defendant failed to stop at scene of accident when he was 18. –
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.
Rusty McGuire
Virginia State Police Press Release
September 21, 2010
STATE POLICE ARREST SUSPECT IN A 1994 FATAL HIT AND RUN CRASH AFTER RECEIVING VIEWER TIP
LOUISA CO. – On the night of February 18, 1994, a 1993 Tomos moped was traveling eastbound on Route 22, Louisa Road, approximately 8/10 of a mile west of Route 33 at Trevilians, when the driver lost control and ran off the right side of the roadway. The moped and the driver came to rest in the roadway. Shortly after the crash, an Isuzu low-riding pickup traveling eastbound struck the victim and left the scene. Inside the pick-up were three men. At 10:26 p.m., Virginia State Police responded to the scene and found the victim, John M. Banks, 34, deceased.
After reaching out to the community on July, 27, a tip was received by the investigating trooper from a viewer. That tip assisted Trooper R. L. Shively and Special Agent J. R. Lyons with the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Richmond Field Division, in tracking down the suspects in the case. Based on information received and after consultation with Commonwealth Attorney Thomas A. Garrett Jr., of the Louisa County Commonwealth Attorney's Office, the driver, Brandon L. Fields, 35, was arrested Monday, September 20, 2010. Fields turned himself in, without incident, to Trooper Shively at the Louisa County Sheriff's Office. Fields was charged with Hit and Run, a class 5 Felony and was held on a $3,000 secured bond at the Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange. Fields has since been released pending his arraignment Tuesday, September 28, 2010.
Driver Arrested: Brandon L. Fields, 35, of the 11000 block of Shannon Hill Road, Louisa, Va.
Brandon Fields
John Banks
