LOUISA, VA (WWBT) – A Louisa man has been found guilty for a crime he committed 18 years ago.
The court found 36-year-old Brandon Fields guilty of failing to stop at the scene of an accident in February 1994.
James Banks, Jr. died after sustaining injury to his head on Route 22 in Louisa.
In 2010, Trooper Richard Shively of the Virginia State Police picked up the cold case; he received a tip from someone who heard about the story — that tip lead Shively to Fields.
When Shively interviewed the suspect, Fields said that, while driving over a hill on Route 22, he saw something in the road, but was unable to avoid it. He never spoke of what he saw that day... until nearly 17 years later.
"Above all else I apologize to the Banks family," said Fields in court. "I know the missed holidays and joy cannot be reclaimed."
In addition to his jail sentence, 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.
A similar unsolved case occurred 10 miles down the road in Goochland — police are still looking for the person responsible for the death of Billy Maxwell, Jr. in 2010.
Anybody with information on the Billy Maxwell, Jr. case should call Richmond Metro Area Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.
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