Delaware News


Delaware Department of Justice Sentencing Announcement

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, December 12, 2008



Wilmington, DE – The Delaware Department of Justice today announced the sentence in the following criminal cases:
Jose Penuela, age 27 of Dover, pled guilty on October 14, 2008 in Sussex County Superior Court to Sexual Solicitation of a Child. On May 8, 2004, Penuela solicited his girlfriend’s child for sex. He was arrested on April 15, 2008 by the Delaware State Police Penuela was sentenced today in Sussex County Superior Court by Judge T. Henley Graves to 10 years in prison, followed by 1 year of home confinement, then 3 years intensive Probation. In addition, he was ordered to have no contact with children under the age of 18, register as a Tier 2 sex offender, and undergo a mental health evaluation and sexual disorder counseling.
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Michael Dunbar, age 43 of New York, pled “Guilty but Mentally Ill at the Time of the Offense” on September 12, 2008 in New Castle County Superior Court to manslaughter.
On March 8, 2007, Dunbar and Norman Feeney were socializing with several other people at the Fairwinds Motel in Bear. Dunbar and Feeney became engaged in an argument and decided to continue their confrontation outside. As Feeney bent down to put on his shoes, Dunbar stabbed him fatally in the neck. Dunbar was arrested on March 8, 2007 after turning himself in to the Delaware State Police.
Dunbar was sentenced today in New Castle County Superior Court by Judge Jerome O. Herlihy to 5 years in prison, followed by 6 months Work Release/Home Confinement, and then 5 years of intensive Probation.
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Chakkira Wonnum, age 21 of Wilmington, pled guilty on July 22, 2008 in New Castle County Superior Court to Murder 2nd Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony and Assault 1st Degree. On May 4, 2005, Wonnum called one of the victims, indicating that she wanted to get together. She asked the victim to pick her up in Wilmington. The victim made arrangements with the second victim to pick up Wonnum. After entering the car, Wonnum pulled out a gun and fired multiple times killing one victim and wounding the other. Wonnum was arrested on May 22, 2005 by Wilmington Police and Delaware State police. Wonnum was sentenced today in New Castle County Superior Court by Judge Peggy L. Ableman to 22 years in prison, followed by 6 months Work Release/Home Confinement, and then 18 months intensive Probation.
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Paul Zugehoer, age 40 of Delaware City, was convicted on April 30, 2008 in New Castle County Superior Court of 3 counts of Felony Home Improvement Fraud.
In February, 2007 a fire severely damaged a historic home in Middletown, Delaware. Zugehoer was hired to repair the damage to the home and was given over $150,000 to complete the work. Zugehoer failed to substantially complete the repairs. An investigation revealed that Zugehoer spent the homeowners’ money on personal items. Zugehoer was arrested by the Delaware State Police on September 18, 2007.
Zugehoer was sentenced today in New Castle County Superior Court by Judge Peggy L. Ableman to 2 years in prison, followed by one year of work release or home confinement, followed by one year of intensive Probation.
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David Buchanan, age 49 of Laurel, was convicted on September 24, 2008 in Sussex County Superior Court of Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Criminal Contempt, Resisting Arrest, 2 counts of Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon, 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and possession of Firearm Ammunition by a Person Prohibited.

On January 26, 2008, Buchanan broke into his former residence in Laurel in violation of a Family Court Order barring him from the property. After the residence was surrounded by police, Buchanan fled from the residence and was  captured after a short foot pursuit. On March 13, 2008, while out on bail for the January 26 incident, Buchanan was stopped after leaving a Family Court Protection from Abuse Order hearing. A .45 caliber handgun and a .22 caliber handgun were located concealed in the
car, along with a box of .45 caliber ammunition. He possessed these weapons in violation of a Family Court Order.
Buchanan was sentenced today in Sussex County Superior Court by Judge Richard F. Stokes to 9 years in prison followed by 1 year of Work Release, and 2 years intensive Probation.
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Delaware Department of Justice Sentencing Announcement

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, December 12, 2008



Wilmington, DE – The Delaware Department of Justice today announced the sentence in the following criminal cases:
Jose Penuela, age 27 of Dover, pled guilty on October 14, 2008 in Sussex County Superior Court to Sexual Solicitation of a Child. On May 8, 2004, Penuela solicited his girlfriend’s child for sex. He was arrested on April 15, 2008 by the Delaware State Police Penuela was sentenced today in Sussex County Superior Court by Judge T. Henley Graves to 10 years in prison, followed by 1 year of home confinement, then 3 years intensive Probation. In addition, he was ordered to have no contact with children under the age of 18, register as a Tier 2 sex offender, and undergo a mental health evaluation and sexual disorder counseling.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Michael Dunbar, age 43 of New York, pled “Guilty but Mentally Ill at the Time of the Offense” on September 12, 2008 in New Castle County Superior Court to manslaughter.
On March 8, 2007, Dunbar and Norman Feeney were socializing with several other people at the Fairwinds Motel in Bear. Dunbar and Feeney became engaged in an argument and decided to continue their confrontation outside. As Feeney bent down to put on his shoes, Dunbar stabbed him fatally in the neck. Dunbar was arrested on March 8, 2007 after turning himself in to the Delaware State Police.
Dunbar was sentenced today in New Castle County Superior Court by Judge Jerome O. Herlihy to 5 years in prison, followed by 6 months Work Release/Home Confinement, and then 5 years of intensive Probation.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Chakkira Wonnum, age 21 of Wilmington, pled guilty on July 22, 2008 in New Castle County Superior Court to Murder 2nd Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony and Assault 1st Degree. On May 4, 2005, Wonnum called one of the victims, indicating that she wanted to get together. She asked the victim to pick her up in Wilmington. The victim made arrangements with the second victim to pick up Wonnum. After entering the car, Wonnum pulled out a gun and fired multiple times killing one victim and wounding the other. Wonnum was arrested on May 22, 2005 by Wilmington Police and Delaware State police. Wonnum was sentenced today in New Castle County Superior Court by Judge Peggy L. Ableman to 22 years in prison, followed by 6 months Work Release/Home Confinement, and then 18 months intensive Probation.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Paul Zugehoer, age 40 of Delaware City, was convicted on April 30, 2008 in New Castle County Superior Court of 3 counts of Felony Home Improvement Fraud.
In February, 2007 a fire severely damaged a historic home in Middletown, Delaware. Zugehoer was hired to repair the damage to the home and was given over $150,000 to complete the work. Zugehoer failed to substantially complete the repairs. An investigation revealed that Zugehoer spent the homeowners’ money on personal items. Zugehoer was arrested by the Delaware State Police on September 18, 2007.
Zugehoer was sentenced today in New Castle County Superior Court by Judge Peggy L. Ableman to 2 years in prison, followed by one year of work release or home confinement, followed by one year of intensive Probation.
_________________________________________________________________________________
David Buchanan, age 49 of Laurel, was convicted on September 24, 2008 in Sussex County Superior Court of Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Criminal Contempt, Resisting Arrest, 2 counts of Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon, 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and possession of Firearm Ammunition by a Person Prohibited.

On January 26, 2008, Buchanan broke into his former residence in Laurel in violation of a Family Court Order barring him from the property. After the residence was surrounded by police, Buchanan fled from the residence and was  captured after a short foot pursuit. On March 13, 2008, while out on bail for the January 26 incident, Buchanan was stopped after leaving a Family Court Protection from Abuse Order hearing. A .45 caliber handgun and a .22 caliber handgun were located concealed in the
car, along with a box of .45 caliber ammunition. He possessed these weapons in violation of a Family Court Order.
Buchanan was sentenced today in Sussex County Superior Court by Judge Richard F. Stokes to 9 years in prison followed by 1 year of Work Release, and 2 years intensive Probation.
# # #

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.