By SERAINA CAVIEZEL AND SOPHIE DULOG

(R-CNS) – Henrico County resident was convicted of assault and battery of a family member Thursday after a Henrico Circuit Court judge found he attacked his grandmother during a heated dispute in her home last September.

Dominic Meade was found guilty following a brief trial with testimony from the victim, his grandmother Margaret Jenkins, and Henrico County Officer David Shirk, who responded to a domestic assault call on Sept. 5, 2024.

“This case is disturbing, that you’re in her home, doing these things to her,” Judge John Marshall said during sentencing.

The assault took place at Jenkins’ home in Henrico, near Highland Springs and Sanston,  where Meade claimed he had been trying to repair his late grandfather’s lawn mower when the argument began.

Jenkins testified that Meade was “cussing her out,” telling her, “I wish you were dead,” “I hate you,” and “I’m going to kill you.”

She said she was so nervous that her hands were shaking and she couldn’t write her own statement for the police, despite trying several times.

“I was afraid for my life because of what had happened with my grandson,” Jenkins testified.

She said Meade followed her into the house, continued yelling, and then shoved her so hard that she fell into the loveseat.

Meade denied touching his grandmother and said the argument began when she told him not to fix the lawn mower.

“I didn’t come nowhere near her. I didn’t put my hands on her, absolutely not,” Meade said.

He claimed he entered and exited through the side door and never went near the den, where Jenkins said the incident occurred.

Shirk testified that he observed damage inside the home, including broken stair spindles and knife cuts on a chair and blanket. Photographs of the damage were submitted as evidence.

“I do not know when the spindles were broken,” Meade said during his testimony. “Do not have no idea where they come from.”

Henrico Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Alison G. M. Martin, who prosecuted the case, argued that Meade was guilty.

“There is physical evidence that absolutely corroborates Ms. Jenkins’ story,” Martin said, in her closing argument, “Ms. Jenkins was so anxious about this situation that her hands were shaking.” 

Marshall found Meade guilty, citing Jenkins’ emotional testimony as especially credible.

“Ms. Jenkins was visibly emotionally upset, she started to cry when she was talking about the things he was saying to her,” the judge said.

Meade was sentenced to 12 months in jail, with four months suspended. He must also complete 12 months of good behavior, have no contact with Jenkins, and participate in an anger management program through the Community Corrections Program.

Court records show this isn’t Meade’s first charge for assault and battery. Martin referenced a March 2025 incident involving a domestic dispute with Meade’s girlfriend, who told police he had strangled her but ultimately declined to press charges.

“These cases suggest that you have an anger management problem. It is clear you cannot control your anger,” Marshall said.