Charges dropped against grandmother

By Keith Epps

The Free Lance-Star

Charges against a 59-year-old grandmother accused of gang-related activities were dropped Friday in Stafford County Circuit Court.

Anjaulyeke Covert–Bryant of Spotsylvania County started the day facing four offenses–participating in gang activity, assault and battery and two counts of obstruction of justice.

Following a break in a preliminary court hearing, prosecutor Jim Peterson dropped the charges.

Covert–Bryant said later that she didn’t know why the charges were dropped or why they were ever filed in the first place. She claimed it was part of an ongoing vendetta against members of her family.

“I can’t begin to tell you what they’ve done to my family,” Covert–Bryant said. “And they’re still doing it.”

At least two of Covert–Bryant’s grandsons, Kendrick Covert and Antonio Navarro–Covert, have been charged and accused of being part of a criminal street gang authorities call the “Goon Squad.”

The young men and their families have repeatedly insisted that there is no such gang.

Covert–Bryant was arrested on Oct. 26 of last year for offenses that supposedly took place in July 2010.

Covert–Bryant said she was accused of telling local gang task force member Jason Dembowski that, “I can’t wait until they whack your ass,” something she denies ever saying.

Covert–Bryant, who once worked as a probation officer in Stafford, said the decision to drop the charges against her came after her attorney requested some of Dembowski’s personnel records.

Though her criminal charges have been dropped, Covert–Bryant said the ordeal has taken an emotional and financial toll. She said she had to spend more than $10,000 in legal fees and had to move out of her apartment.

Keith Epps: 540/374-5404

kepps@freelancestar.com

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