SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, Va. — Wesley Hadsell was arraigned in Southampton County where he pleaded not guilty to drug possession and distribution.
According to court documents, Hadsell gave an inmate a piece of suboxone strip which the inmate then turned over to jail staff. Court documents showed deputies searched Hadsell’s cell block and found a piece of tissue wrapped in cellophane in a sock Hadsell was wearing, with six more suboxone strips in it.
Suboxone is an opioid.
Hadsell was also in court for a motions hearing in regard to his alleged involvement in the murder of his stepdaughter, 18-year-old Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell.
On March 2, 2015, AJ was reported missing to the Norfolk Police Department. Investigators found AJ's body on April 9, 2015, in Southampton County. The medical examiner's office determined she died from acute heroin poisoning.
Hadsell was subsequently charged with murder, and concealment of a body after AJ’s body was found at an abandoned house in Southampton County.
In court on Thursday Hadsell’s lawyer, James Ellenson, advocated on motions to omit some photographs of AJ’s body during a jury trial. Ellenson also pushed to have specific individuals barred from testifying. Finally, he demanded the Commonwealth's attorney spell out the specific allegations against his client.
The judge, however, denied all three motions.
In 2015, investigators found a GPS that placed Hadsell’s work van behind an abandoned house in Southampton County two days after AJ disappeared. Ellenson expressed frustration over the fact that information about the GPS information somehow got leaked to the media.
Ellenson also said he was concerned about whether or not Hadsell could receive a fair jury after consistent media coverage. A motion is pending on whether or not to change the venue of Hadsell’s jury trial.
Hadsell is currently serving a 10-year sentence for possession of ammunition.
Hadsell will be back in court in December, where the judge will determine where the grand jury will take place.
