KENNETH WOODSON
JUDGE HITS ‘MUTE’ ON DEFENDANT
A New York City man, who’s charged with making threats and harassing various employees of Blackstone-based Citizens Bank & Trust Company, has been ruled incompetent to stand trial.
The ruling on the status of 55-year-old Kenneth Woodson was made Friday, Jan. 16th by Judge Kenneth Blalock in Nottoway General District Court.
Woodson remained incarcerated at Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville and is expected to be transferred to a secure mental health facility — likely Central State Hospital in Petersburg. The court ordered Woodson to patient restoration treatment so he can stand trial.
Woodson, who is employed by New York City Police Dept. (reportedly not as a sworn officer), has no known relatives here and no known connections to this area or Virginia’s second oldest community bank.
Woodson was arrested Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 15th, 2025 in downtown Blackstone outside the bank’s drive-thru branch on North Main Street. Police that day had received information that Woodson was on his way to Blackstone in an apparent attempt to meet with bank staff.
CB&T underwent special security measures to ensure safety of staff and customers while branches and numerous officers were on high alert. Officers spotted Woodson at about 2:00 p.m. that afternoon and took him into custody before he reached the bank. Police say he was unarmed.
Woodson is charged with one felony count of Threatening to Extort Money, 13 misdemeanors of Annoying Phone Calls, and five misdemeanors of Harassment by Computer.
Blackstone Police say a series of events — involving Woodson communicating with the bank — began unfolding last February, intensified, and became more frequent over the Summer. Detective Jason Robertson began working with a variety of agencies — both in-state and out-of-state.
Det. Robertson was able to obtain warrants on Woodson, and then authorities learned Oct. 15th that Woodson was on his way to Blackstone.
During the Jan. 16th hearing, Woodson appeared via video and attempted to talk over Judge Blalock so frequently that Blalock had a bailiff push the mute button.
Blalock has been presiding in the case after Nottoway General District Court Judge Thomas Stark IV recused himself. Stark is related to C. Taylor Quicke, who serves as Citizens Bank’s President & CEO and who was among those present for proceedings on Jan. 16th. CEO Quicke has obtained a preliminary restraining order against the defendant.
Woodson, who in October insisted he would represent himself “pro se,” has been assigned the court-appointed services of defense attorney Jordan Dalton. A review status for Woodson is set for March 27th at 9:00 a.m.
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