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Political consultant convicted of impersonating a police officer in Norfolk

Posted at 1:47 PM, Mar 09, 2015
and last updated 2015-03-10 06:53:09-04

Norfolk, Va. (WTKR) - Kyle Adams, a one-time political consultant with ties to several well-known Hampton Roads politicians, was convicted of one misdemeanor count of impersonating a police officer in Norfolk General District Court Monday afternoon.

Adams was charged with two counts of Impersonating a Police Officer, two counts of Abduction and two counts of Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony following a November 18, 2014 incident at the Rodeway Inn on Shore Drive in Norfolk.

In court Monday, one count of impersonating a police officer was dropped after the prosecutor and defense attorney agreed that it was "one continuous act" of impersonation.

Adams was found guilty on that count and sentenced to 12 months in jail with 6 suspended, plus a $150 fine.

The charges of Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony were dropped after the prosecutor admitted there was no evidence a gun had been used.

The remaining charges of Abduction were certified to the Grand Jury.

During the preliminary hearing, the prosecutor called just one of the two victims in the case as a witness.

Victoria Oprea, a convicted felon currently in jail herself, testified that Adams had responded to an ad she had posted online for escort services.

Oprea testified that when Adams arrived at the Rodeway Inn Hotel where she had been living, he whipped out a badge and claimed to be a Virginia State Police officer.

She testified that Adams put her in handcuffs and demanded to know "where's the money you've made today" and told her that he was investigating a man who was murdering women on escort sites.

Adams also put her boyfriend in handcuffs when he was called to the room, according to Oprea's testimony, and he searched purses and drawers in the hotel room looking for money.

Before Adams left, Oprea testified that she asked him for a business card and he instead wrote down an 804 area-code on a flash card and then left.

Her boyfriend told Oprea to call the number and when she did, it was disconnected.

That's when the boyfriend, who did not testify in court Monday, followed Adams outside and wrote down his license plate number.

Oprea testified that in addition to the badge, Adams was also wearing an earpiece similar to what an officer might have, but did have on New Balance sneakers seemed "odd."

She said the entire encounter lasted approximately 25 minutes and at the time she "believed he was really a State Police Officer."

When asked by the judge, Oprea said that per the arrangement, Adams was to provide a $150 "donation" for a half-hour of the escort services, but she says he never showed that money.

During cross-examination, Oprea also admitted to having "a drug problem" saying she was addicted to Opiates, including Heroin.

In asking for a "lengthy" sentence for the misdemeanor police impersonation conviction, the prosecutor told the judge that the behavior Adams exhibited was "bizarre at best."

The defense attorney told the judge he intends to appeal the misdemeanor conviction.

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