
A man accused of concealing evidence in connection with a deadly hit-and-run involving a York County bicyclist has been released on bond.
Robert Lee Strickland Jr., 61, is out on a $10,000 secured bond, but the York-Poquoson Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is appealing the bond in an attempt to place Strickland back in custody, court documents show.
Strickland’s case is scheduled for the commonwealth’s bond appeal hearing at 9 a.m. Jan. 15 in the York County Circuit Court.
Strickland is charged with a felony concealing or compounding offenses, obstructing justice and accessory after the fact in connection with the hit-and-run death of 50-year-old Brian Utne on Oct. 25.
Court documents list Strickland as the owner of vehicle from Heritage Gardens Tree and Lawn Care Specialists, which is the employer of Alexander Michael Crosby, 25.
Crosby is accused of hitting Utne while driving one of the company’s vehicles.
Court records indicate multiple interviews with authorities following the crash led to Strickland’s arrest. In court records, interviewees told investigators Strickland went to the scene of the crash after receiving a call from Crosby.
Strickland was at the scene of the crash and helped “conceal evidence” by having the vehicle towed and repaired, according to court papers filed in the case.
Court documents allege Strickland knowingly “made false statements” during one interview with York-Poquoson Sheriff’s deputies. He told deputies he was in Hampton at the time of the crash, that the vehicle had already been towed by the time he arrived, and that he believed Crosby had only hit a deer.
Strickland’s statements contradicted evidence that showed he was not in Hampton during the time of the crash and that he called the towing company, Pete’s Towing, authorities alleged in court documents.
In 2009, Strickland was accused of child endangerment in connection with the death of a 14-year-old boy who worked at Strickland’s company, Old Dominion Tree and Lawn Care Specialists.
In a 2011 agreement with prosecutors, the child endangerment charge was dropped, and Strickland’s company was instead found guilty of misdemeanor willful violation of safety standards causing death.
The company was fined $35,000 — $34,000 of that fine was suspended.