BRYSON J. HICKS
A 21-year-old Norfolk man has been sentened to an active sentence of 10 years following his guilty plea to a rape charge (victim less than 15 years of age) in Essex County Circuit Court.
Bryson Joshua Hicks entered the plea during an April 9 appearance before Judge John S. Martin.
In a plea agreement acPlea cepted by Martin, Hicks was sentenced to 30 years in prison with 20 years suspended. He is also required to register with the Virginia State Police sex offender and crimes against minors registry. Moreover, following his release Hicks will be on supervised probation for five years during which time he will be subject to warrantless searches and seizures.
The case was prosecuted by Richmond County Commonwealth’s Attorney Elizabeth Trible. She was appointed to the role in February when Commonwealth’s Attorney James M. Sitton II agreed to disqualify himself after an 11th hour request by defense attorney Paul Galanides.
Sitton, who was a defense attorney prior to being appointed Essex County’s prosecutor last year, previously represented Hicks in a 2024 trespassing/destruction of property case here. Hicks received a 12-month suspended sentence in that matter.
In a summary of evidence, Trible noted that Hicks met the victim via Snapchat, a messaging app where users can exchange pictures and videos that are designed to disappear after being viewed. The victim believed Hicks was 16 years old. Trible said the victim admitted to having sex with Hicks in his motor vehicle near her home in Essex County.
“By all indications the encounter that took place between my client and the victim was consensual,” Galanides told the court.
Trible, though, noted the victim’s age. “The victim was unable to consent due to her age,” Trible told Martin.
Hicks is presently serving a 6-year sentence on an unrelated conviction in Norfolk. Hicks has also been indicted on criminal charges by a Chesapeake Grand Jury.
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