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The Fairfax County grand jury, last week, indicted two local residents for criminal offenses. They are Wendy Hunt — accused of a trio of white-collar crimes — and Cody Howard, suspected of several offenses, including burglary and attempted robbery.
<sh>Wendy Hunt
<bt>Wendy Rae Hunt, 23, of 14223 St. Germain Drive, No. 104, in Centreville, is accused of embezzling from her employer, Creative World Learning Center in Annandale.
She worked there since August and was entrusted to make the company's bank deposits. However, according to Fairfax County police, an investigation revealed that Hunt allegedly didn't put certain cash and check deposits into the business' bank account.
Police also believe that she reportedly forged some company checks, made them payable to herself — allegedly forging the signature of the company director — and then cashed them. She was arrested, Oct. 10.
The grand jury indicted her last Tuesday, Jan. 20, on one count each of forgery, uttering (passing off phony documents as real) and embezzling. Each count of forgery and uttering forged checks is punishable by as much as 10 years in prison. Hunt is scheduled to enter a plea, Feb. 23, in Circuit Court.
<sh>Cody Howard
<bt>Police believe that Cody Ramon Howard, 20, of 9451 Lee Highway, Apt. 1214, in Fairfax, used a machete to rob and terrorize partygoers at a home in Little Rocky Run.
In an Aug. 27 court document, Fairfax County Police Det. Earl M. Bowers wrote that, on Aug. 16, several adults and juveniles attended a party in the 5900 block of Wildbrook Court. But around 12:30 a.m., three men forced their way in through a sliding-glass door.
"One of the men was armed with a machete or similar large knife, the other two with firearms," wrote Bowers. "The three men forced the partygoers onto a couch and demanded money, drugs and cell phones. One ... held a machete to a victim's throat." Bowers said the men searched the home, took two cell phones and fled.
The detective wrote that several witnesses allegedly identified Howard as the person with the machete. Police arrested him on Sept. 3, charging him with robbery — later reduced to attempted robbery — abduction and burglary.
The grand jury, last Tuesday, Jan. 20, indicted him on the burglary and attempted robbery charges. He's slated for a jury trial for these offenses, March 16, in Circuit Court.
But when that trial is done, Howard will still have more on his plate. Indicted Nov. 17 for abduction, he's scheduled for a Jan. 14 jury trial in Circuit Court for that offense. Then, on Feb. 19, he is to appear in General District Court to answer to a charge of obstruction of justice.