BUSH, 41
A Blackstone resident with an extensive criminal record — including time behind bars — will be sentenced Jan. 26th in Nottoway Circuit Court after a jury convicted him Friday on several drug charges.
Bernard Cedric Bush, 41, was found Guilty of Manufacture/ Distribute a Schedule I/II Drug (3rd+ Offense); Possession of Schedule I/II Drugs; and Possession of a Firearm while Possessing Schedule I/ II Drugs. A charge of Displaying a Firearm while Possessing Drugs was taken under advisement by Judge Ray P. Lupold III. Jurors took 42 minutes to reach their verdicts.
Bush was arrested Tuesday morning, Jan. 28th, during a police raid in the 500 block of Doswell Street. Bush was apprehended without incident — other than, po- lice said, he tried to climb out of a window.
Friday’s case was prosecuted by Commonwealth’s Attorney Leanne Watrous. Bush was defended by privatelyretained attorney Cody Villalon of Richmond.
Bush meanwhile is awaiting trial on two counts of Manufacture/Distribute Schedule I/II Drug. Those charges resulted from direct indictments handed down in September by a Nottoway grand jury after an investigation by the Nottoway Drug Task Force.
He’s also scheduled for a Dec. 16th jury trial involving firearms violations by a violent felon.
Bush could be facing significant prison time not only on Friday’s convictions but also for active time suspended from previous sentences.
Bush’s prior criminal record in Nottoway includes a 60- year sentence — with 53 years suspended — in 2014 for three counts of Manufacture/etc. of a Controlled Substance; 2004 convictions of Felony Eluding Police and Possession of Cocaine (10 years in prison with 10 years suspended); one-year behind bars in 2004 for felony Assault of a Police Officer; two years in prison in 2006 for Felony Possession of a Firearm; five years in prison with all five years suspended in 2006 for Shooting Into an Occupied Vehicle; 18 months in 2006 for two counts of Unlawful Wounding; and one year in 2010 for Probation Violation.
Bush earlier this year was sentenced to three years, four months in prison after pleading Guilty to several counts of Violating a Protective Order, according to court records.
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