CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A Chesapeake City Council member has turned herself in and bonded out of jail after being indicted by a grand jury.
On Tuesday, a grand jury returned an indictment for Amanda Newins, charging her with financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, according to court documents.
A grand jury indictment claims Newins knowingly took the property from a vulnerable adult.
All throughout Tuesday night, News 3 reached out to the bar association, Newins's law firm, and Chesapeake city council members for comment on the case.
The owner of the law firm wasn't available at the time we reached out.
Chesapeake city council member, Dr. Ella Ward, told News 3 she had no comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, other city council members and Mayor Rick West did not respond to our requests for comment.
News 3 also went to Newins's home Tuesday afternoon, but no one answered.
George Williams has been Newins's neighbor in Chesapeake for more than a year.
“I was shocked,” Williams said. “An indictment doesn’t mean anything until you can prove it.”
“She’s a nice, upstanding woman [and] so is her husband,” Williams added. “[They’re] very nice people, and I’m glad to have them in the neighborhood.”
Newins, who is an attorney and president of the Chesapeake Bar Association, is also facing a civil lawsuit over a house on Kempsville Road in Virginia Beach. The court documents in that lawsuit state the property was turned over to Newins on Feb. 21, 2021.
Chris Pauley used to be a neighbor of Newins in Virginia Beach.
“They were role model neighbors. Very friendly, always saying hello in passing. We’ve had a few conversations together, and I would’ve never thought anything like that. I just don’t see it,” Pauley said. “Innocent until proven guilty. I have no reason to doubt them until I have reason.”
As of Tuesday night, Newins had bonded out, according to jail records.
This is a developing story. Stay with News 3 for the latest.
