BY KEITH EPPS
A woman who molested a teenage girl after giving her a pill was ordered yesterday to serve five years in prison.
Lena Ann Wright, 28, was convicted in Fredericksburg Circuit Court of four charges, including aggravated sexual battery and object sexual penetration.
Wright entered an Alford plea to the charges, meaning that, while she acknowledges that the evidence against her is sufficient, she does not admit guilt.
As part of a plea agreement, three other charges were dropped.
According to prosecutor LaBravia Jenkins, a teenage acquaintance of Wright's stopped by Wright's home on Washington Avenue in early September with two friends. Wright's teenage sister was also there.
Jenkins said Wright
After one of the teens later complained of a headache, Wright gave her a pill, Jenkins said. The girl fell asleep in Wright's living room.
Sometime during the night, at least one of the teens saw Wright removing clothes from the passed-out teenager and performing a sex act on her.
The girl was told about the incident after she expressed concern to her friends about waking up naked.
Wright was arrested in December after the parents of the James Monroe High School student complained to police. The parents didn't learn about the allegations until several weeks had passed.
Police at the time said the James Monroe High School students had regularly walked to Wright's home after school.
Judge W. Shore Robertson, a retired Fauquier County judge, gave Wright a pep talk before sending her to prison. He told her that although her actions were "heinous and offensive," he saw a lot of good in her and urged her to make something positive out of the rest of her life.
Wright was also convicted of two misdemeanors, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and purchasing alcohol for minors.
She was sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison with all but five years suspended.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com