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Rea will serve three months in jail
Former CCHS teacher and assistant football coach Frank "Chip" Rea, 32, was sentenced to five years in prison, with four years and nine months suspended, by Fauquier County Circuit Court Judge Herman A. Whisenant Jr. on Thursday, Jan. 24 as part of his plea agreement on drug charges.
Also as part of the sentencing, Rea will be placed on two years supervised probation and perform 100 hours of community service.
Rea accepted a plea bargain on Oct. 22 on one count of cocaine possession, and one count of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. The former coach was originally arrested in June after the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office and the Blue Ridge Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant of Rea's Sumerduck home and found both cocaine and marijuana, along with paraphernalia commonly used in the distribution of illegal substances. Firearms were also found in the home.
At that point, he was charged with intent to distribute cocaine, intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm while in possession of a schedule II drug (cocaine).
In September, Rea struck a deal with prosecutors to have the charges reduced in exchange for his guilty plea on the possession of cocaine charge and the one count of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. The possession of a firearm while in possession of a schedule II drug was dropped. At that point, he also agreed to a separate plea deal for assaulting two females earlier this summer. He was given a 12 month suspended sentence as part of that plea agreement.
Before going to court on Oct. 22, Rea allegedly made numerous threats against Harper and several members of the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office. At one point, Rea had threatened to "cut off a detective's head and display it on a post in Rea's front yard."
Fauquier County Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Amy Harper argued for a stricter sentence on Thursday, arguing that Rea has showed nothing but disregard for the law since his original arrest.
During court proceedings Thursday, Harper maintained that Rea had continuously violated terms of his bond by making contact with one of the assault victims. Harper also pointed out that Rea has continued to make threats against court officials, despite being ordered by Fauquier County General District Court Judge Jeffrey W. Parker not to.
Defense Attorney Blair Howard argued that Rea had not violated any conditions of his release, and that the threats that were made against Angie Walker, a pre-trial service officer for Fauquier County, were made in dialect between Rea and his mother, and were not direct threats against Walker.
Before sentencing, the 32-year old defendant got a chance to speak.
Rea, dressed in black slacks, a white shirt and striped tie, and an overcoat, stood before Judge Whisenant and apologized for his actions.
"I've made a multitude of mistakes," Rea said. "I've done a lot of things wrong and I've brought shame to my family and those who truly carry about me. I foolishly thought that I was in control of my life, but drugs and alcohol had a negative impact on me. My excessive drug use did impact my judgment, but it's no excuse. I apologize for my behavior and accept full responsibility for my actions.
"I've learned three valuable lessons over the last few months. First, stay away from drugs and people who use them. Second, watch who you let into your life. And third, I've learned that I need to respect and obey the law."
Rea acknowledged that he's been taking medications for a bi-polar disorder and depression and anxiety. He also is undergoing treatment for his drug and alcohol addiction at Snowden Rehabilition in Fredericksburg.
Upon sentencing, Judge Whisenant said, "I don't care who comes in and out of your life, at the end of the day, we're all responsible for our own conduct. Mr. Rea, your conduct speaks a lot louder than your words."
Afterwards, Howard said his client got a fair deal.
"I thought the judge was very, very fair in sentencing," Howard said. "He's given my client the opportunity to clear his record. Within months, (Rea) will have the opportunity to become a productive member of the community once again."
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