LURAY, Va. — This week, a Stanley woman was sentenced for burglarizing a home last summer.
According to a previous media statement from the Page County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), deputies were called to the 100 block of Donovan Drive for a report of breaking and entering on August 8, 2024.
Residents had returned home to find that their house had been burglarized. A large amount of personal property was missing. The homeowner also discovered that the intruder had brazenly taken a shower.
Investigators from the PCSO Criminal Investigations Division responded and processed the scene. On August 12, investigators arrested Chelsey Dawn Bywaters of Stanley.
Bywaters, 32, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, two counts of grand larceny, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and burglary.
Investigators were able to recover much of the stolen property.
On May 22, 2025, Bywaters appeared in Page County Circuit Court for sentencing and pled guilty to all charges.
According to online court records, charges and sentencing were as follows:
§18.2-250 – Possession of a Controlled Substance: Nolle prosequi (the prosecutor chose to not pursue the charge).
§18.2-91 – Entering a House to Commit Larceny: Five years of incarceration, suspended.
§18.2-95 – Theft of a Firearm: Five years of incarceration, suspended.
§18.2-95 – Grand Larceny (in excess of $1,000): Three years of incarceration, suspended.
§18.2-308.2 – Nonviolent Felon in Possession of a Firearm: Five years of incarceration, with two years suspended.
Following her release, Bywaters will be on supervised probation for three years.