COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Judges O’Brien, Lorish and Senior Judge Annunziata UNPUBLISHED
RODNEY RANDOLPH THOMPSON MEMORANDUM OPINION* v. Record No. 1161-21-4 PER CURIAM JULY 19, 2022 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY James P. Fisher, Judge
(David W. Walls, Deputy Public Defender, on brief), for appellant.
(Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General; Rebecca M. Garcia, Assistant Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.
The appellant, Rodney Randolph Thompson, argues that the circuit court abused its
discretion by considering an improper factor—a prior conviction he did not have—during his
sentencing for a probation violation. After examining the briefs and record in this case, the panel
unanimously holds that oral argument is unnecessary because “the appeal is wholly without merit.”
Code § 17.1-403(ii)(a); Rule 5A:27(a). Because we conclude the circuit court simply misspoke
when it referred to Thompson’s prior offense as malicious, instead of unlawful, wounding and
that this misstatement did not affect the overall sentence, we affirm the decision of the circuit
court.
* Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication. BACKGROUND1
The circuit court previously convicted Thompson of assault and battery of a family member
and attempted unlawful wounding in 2018. Thompson was sentenced to three years of incarceration
and twelve months in jail, with all but four months suspended on the condition that he successfully
complete supervised probation, substance abuse treatment, an anger management course, and pay
restitution. Thompson’s initial term of probation was set to expire in September 2020. However, in
December 2019, following a show cause hearing for Thompson’s failure to pay restitution, the court
revoked and resuspended his sentence to afford him additional time to pay and comply with the
terms of supervision. As part of this revocation, the court extended his term of probation by six
months, making the term expire in March 2021.
In January 2021, an officer from Fredericksburg Probation and Parole issued a major
violation report alleging that Thompson had again violated the terms of his probation. The report
asserted that Thompson had changed his residence without notifying probation and absconded after
failing to complete anger management treatment. In a supplemental letter to the court,
Rappahannock County Probation and Parole Officer Lori Sisson wrote that Thompson had also
incurred new criminal convictions for contempt of court and driving with a revoked operator’s
license.
At Thompson’s revocation hearing, Sisson reiterated the allegations in the major violation
report and her letter supplementing it. She also testified that a probation officer had “conducted a
home visit” at Thompson’s “approved residence” and discovered that he had moved without
permission or notice. Moreover, since July 2020, probation had lost contact with Thompson until
he was arrested on the show cause capias. Conceding that he had incurred new criminal convictions
“In accordance with familiar principles of appellate review, the facts will be stated in the 1
light most favorable to the Commonwealth, the prevailing party at trial.” Poole v. Commonwealth, 73 Va. App. 357, 360 (2021) (quoting Gerald v. Commonwealth, 295 Va. 469, 472 (2018)). -2- while on probation, Thompson testified that he never knew that he was required to complete anger
management treatment. Thompson also admitted that he had moved without notifying his probation
officer but argued that he believed his probation had expired.2
Following argument by counsel, the circuit court found that Thompson had violated the
conditions of probation as alleged and proceeded to sentencing. Before imposing sentence, the
court requested “a copy of [Thompson’s] prior record” and confirmed that the parties had received
Sisson’s letter detailing Thompson’s new convictions. The court found that Thompson’s underlying
convictions for “attempted malicious wounding” and “assault of a domestic nature” were “serious,”
but said his newly-incurred criminal convictions were “of the greatest concern.” The court
concluded that Thompson was “not amenable to probation” and, accordingly, revoked and
resuspended all but two years of Thompson’s previously-suspended sentence.
Thompson subsequently moved for reduction of his sentence, asserting that the circuit court
had misstated his underlying conviction as “attempted malicious wounding” when it was actually
for attempted unlawful wounding. The court summarily denied the motion without a hearing,
concluding that “the sentence will remain unchanged.” This appeal follows.
ANALYSIS
Thompson contends that the circuit court abused its discretion by considering an “inaccurate
prior conviction” during sentencing. After suspending a sentence, a trial court “may revoke the
suspension of sentence for any cause the court deems sufficient that occurred at any time within the
probation period, or within the period of suspension fixed by the court.” Code § 19.2-306(A). “In
2 On cross-examination, Sisson agreed that the probation officer’s report stated that the supervising officer had “attempted to re-establish contact” with Thompson “to advise him that his supervision had not expired” because the “supervision date was not updated” in that officer’s records to reflect the six-month extension. Sisson further agreed that this may have meant that both the probation officer and Thompson had erroneously believed that his term was over as of September 2020. Thompson has not assigned error to whether the court appropriately revoked his suspended sentences. -3- revocation appeals, the trial court’s ‘findings of fact and judgment will not be reversed unless there
is a clear showing of abuse of discretion.’” Jacobs v. Commonwealth, 61 Va. App. 529, 535 (2013)
(quoting Davis v. Commonwealth, 12 Va. App. 81, 86 (1991)).
An abuse of discretion . . . can occur in three principal ways: when a relevant factor that should have been given significant weight is not considered; when an irrelevant or improper factor is considered and given significant weight; and when all proper factors, and no improper ones, are considered, but the court, in weighing those factors, commits a clear error of judgment.
Landrum v. Chippenham & Johnston-Willis Hosps., Inc., 282 Va. 346, 352 (2011) (quoting Kern v.
TXO Prod. Corp., 738 F.2d 968, 970 (8th Cir. 1984)). “The evidence is considered in the light most
favorable to the Commonwealth, as the prevailing party below.” Jacobs, 61 Va. App. at 535.
Under Code § 19.2-306(C), if the trial court finds good cause to believe that the defendant
has violated the terms of suspension, the court may revoke the suspension and impose a new
sentence. The court can then suspend all or any part of this sentence for a period up to the statutory
maximum period for which the defendant might originally have been sentenced, less any time
already served, and may place the defendant upon terms and conditions or probation. Thompson
does not argue that the circuit court lacked sufficient cause to revoke his suspended sentence;
indeed, he conceded the violation below. Rather, he argues that the court abused its discretion by
considering an improper factor—“an incorrect prior conviction during sentencing”—which
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COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Judges O’Brien, Lorish and Senior Judge Annunziata UNPUBLISHED
RODNEY RANDOLPH THOMPSON MEMORANDUM OPINION* v. Record No. 1161-21-4 PER CURIAM JULY 19, 2022 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY James P. Fisher, Judge
(David W. Walls, Deputy Public Defender, on brief), for appellant.
(Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General; Rebecca M. Garcia, Assistant Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.
The appellant, Rodney Randolph Thompson, argues that the circuit court abused its
discretion by considering an improper factor—a prior conviction he did not have—during his
sentencing for a probation violation. After examining the briefs and record in this case, the panel
unanimously holds that oral argument is unnecessary because “the appeal is wholly without merit.”
Code § 17.1-403(ii)(a); Rule 5A:27(a). Because we conclude the circuit court simply misspoke
when it referred to Thompson’s prior offense as malicious, instead of unlawful, wounding and
that this misstatement did not affect the overall sentence, we affirm the decision of the circuit
court.
* Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication. BACKGROUND1
The circuit court previously convicted Thompson of assault and battery of a family member
and attempted unlawful wounding in 2018. Thompson was sentenced to three years of incarceration
and twelve months in jail, with all but four months suspended on the condition that he successfully
complete supervised probation, substance abuse treatment, an anger management course, and pay
restitution. Thompson’s initial term of probation was set to expire in September 2020. However, in
December 2019, following a show cause hearing for Thompson’s failure to pay restitution, the court
revoked and resuspended his sentence to afford him additional time to pay and comply with the
terms of supervision. As part of this revocation, the court extended his term of probation by six
months, making the term expire in March 2021.
In January 2021, an officer from Fredericksburg Probation and Parole issued a major
violation report alleging that Thompson had again violated the terms of his probation. The report
asserted that Thompson had changed his residence without notifying probation and absconded after
failing to complete anger management treatment. In a supplemental letter to the court,
Rappahannock County Probation and Parole Officer Lori Sisson wrote that Thompson had also
incurred new criminal convictions for contempt of court and driving with a revoked operator’s
license.
At Thompson’s revocation hearing, Sisson reiterated the allegations in the major violation
report and her letter supplementing it. She also testified that a probation officer had “conducted a
home visit” at Thompson’s “approved residence” and discovered that he had moved without
permission or notice. Moreover, since July 2020, probation had lost contact with Thompson until
he was arrested on the show cause capias. Conceding that he had incurred new criminal convictions
“In accordance with familiar principles of appellate review, the facts will be stated in the 1
light most favorable to the Commonwealth, the prevailing party at trial.” Poole v. Commonwealth, 73 Va. App. 357, 360 (2021) (quoting Gerald v. Commonwealth, 295 Va. 469, 472 (2018)). -2- while on probation, Thompson testified that he never knew that he was required to complete anger
management treatment. Thompson also admitted that he had moved without notifying his probation
officer but argued that he believed his probation had expired.2
Following argument by counsel, the circuit court found that Thompson had violated the
conditions of probation as alleged and proceeded to sentencing. Before imposing sentence, the
court requested “a copy of [Thompson’s] prior record” and confirmed that the parties had received
Sisson’s letter detailing Thompson’s new convictions. The court found that Thompson’s underlying
convictions for “attempted malicious wounding” and “assault of a domestic nature” were “serious,”
but said his newly-incurred criminal convictions were “of the greatest concern.” The court
concluded that Thompson was “not amenable to probation” and, accordingly, revoked and
resuspended all but two years of Thompson’s previously-suspended sentence.
Thompson subsequently moved for reduction of his sentence, asserting that the circuit court
had misstated his underlying conviction as “attempted malicious wounding” when it was actually
for attempted unlawful wounding. The court summarily denied the motion without a hearing,
concluding that “the sentence will remain unchanged.” This appeal follows.
ANALYSIS
Thompson contends that the circuit court abused its discretion by considering an “inaccurate
prior conviction” during sentencing. After suspending a sentence, a trial court “may revoke the
suspension of sentence for any cause the court deems sufficient that occurred at any time within the
probation period, or within the period of suspension fixed by the court.” Code § 19.2-306(A). “In
2 On cross-examination, Sisson agreed that the probation officer’s report stated that the supervising officer had “attempted to re-establish contact” with Thompson “to advise him that his supervision had not expired” because the “supervision date was not updated” in that officer’s records to reflect the six-month extension. Sisson further agreed that this may have meant that both the probation officer and Thompson had erroneously believed that his term was over as of September 2020. Thompson has not assigned error to whether the court appropriately revoked his suspended sentences. -3- revocation appeals, the trial court’s ‘findings of fact and judgment will not be reversed unless there
is a clear showing of abuse of discretion.’” Jacobs v. Commonwealth, 61 Va. App. 529, 535 (2013)
(quoting Davis v. Commonwealth, 12 Va. App. 81, 86 (1991)).
An abuse of discretion . . . can occur in three principal ways: when a relevant factor that should have been given significant weight is not considered; when an irrelevant or improper factor is considered and given significant weight; and when all proper factors, and no improper ones, are considered, but the court, in weighing those factors, commits a clear error of judgment.
Landrum v. Chippenham & Johnston-Willis Hosps., Inc., 282 Va. 346, 352 (2011) (quoting Kern v.
TXO Prod. Corp., 738 F.2d 968, 970 (8th Cir. 1984)). “The evidence is considered in the light most
favorable to the Commonwealth, as the prevailing party below.” Jacobs, 61 Va. App. at 535.
Under Code § 19.2-306(C), if the trial court finds good cause to believe that the defendant
has violated the terms of suspension, the court may revoke the suspension and impose a new
sentence. The court can then suspend all or any part of this sentence for a period up to the statutory
maximum period for which the defendant might originally have been sentenced, less any time
already served, and may place the defendant upon terms and conditions or probation. Thompson
does not argue that the circuit court lacked sufficient cause to revoke his suspended sentence;
indeed, he conceded the violation below. Rather, he argues that the court abused its discretion by
considering an improper factor—“an incorrect prior conviction during sentencing”—which
Thompson asserts “result[ed] in more of [his] suspended sentence being revoked” than would
otherwise have occurred.
The record does not support Thompson’s assertions. Thompson concludes from the circuit
court’s misstatement of his underlying conviction that it improperly considered “a conviction that
does not exist.” But that argument overlooks the broader context of the record as a whole. “[T]his
Court may not ‘fix upon isolated statements of the trial judge taken out of the full context in which
they were made, and use them as a predicate for holding the law has been misapplied.’” Bassett v. -4- Commonwealth, 13 Va. App. 580, 583 (1992) (quoting Yarborough v. Commonwealth, 217 Va.
971, 978 (1977)). Moreover, a “trial court’s remark is not, in and of itself, ‘the full context’ simply
because it represents the only point at which the court [expressly] addressed the issue [in dispute].”
Parker v. Commonwealth, 41 Va. App. 643, 656 (2003) (quoting Bassett, 13 Va. App. at 583-84),
overruled in part on other grounds by Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36 (2004). Although the
circuit court misstated Thompson’s underlying conviction at sentencing, the court had requested his
criminal record before imposing judgment. The court also subsequently denied his motion for
reconsideration, which explicitly identified the discrepancy, holding that “the sentence will remain
unchanged.” Viewed in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, those circumstances
demonstrate that the circuit court was aware of Thompson’s correct criminal history and simply
misspoke while rendering judgment. Cf. Nelson v. Commonwealth, 12 Va. App. 835, 838 (1991)
(concluding that the trial court “misspoke” regarding the length of the defendant’s sentence and did
not intend to impose a more lenient penalty).
More importantly, nothing in the record suggests that the circuit court imposed a more
severe sentence because of the misstatement. To the contrary, the circuit court emphasized that
Thompson’s new criminal convictions while on probation were “of the greatest concern.” The
court also considered Thompson’s history under court supervision, which included his failure to
complete required treatment, and concluded that he was “not amenable” to probation. For this
reason, the court imposed two active years of incarceration with no additional term of supervised
probation. Accordingly, we hold that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion by considering
an improper factor.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the circuit court’s judgment is affirmed.
Affirmed.
-5-