Child Neglect, DUI Charges Filed In Crash Near Fredericksburg: Sheriff

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A Stafford man faces driving under the influence and abuse and neglect of a child charges after the Honda he was driving rear-ended a Volkswagen that had stopped for a red light Saturday near Fredericksburg, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.

A sheriff’s deputy responded around 12:47 p.m. to the area of Warrenton Road and northbound I-95 for the report of a crash involving two vehicles. Although both vehicles were totalled, only minor injuries were reported.

The Honda's driver, identified as Joseph Hall Jr., 35, showed signs of intoxication, including pinpoint pupils and reportedly smelling of alcohol, according to the sheriff’s office.

Hall, who had a child in his car at the time of the crash, admitted to drinking a 40-ounce beer before he got behind the wheel, according to the incident report. The sheriff’s office determined that Hall had an earlier DUI offense and that he was driving on a revoked license.

SCSO charged Hall with driving under the influence second offense within five years with a blood alcohol content above 0.2 with a child present, driving with a revoked license, child neglect, following too closely, and having an expired registration, according to the incident report. Hall was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

Hall is scheduled to appear in Stafford County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court on Tuesday for a hearing on the abuse and neglect of a child charge, which is a Class 6 felony. If convicted, he faces a possible penalty of one to five years in prison, up to 12 months in jail, and a fine of up to $2,500, according to the Code of Virginia. The court also has the option to impose an additional term of incarceration.

Hall was already due to appear in Stafford General District Court on April 24 on two unrelated charges, according to court records. On Nov. 20, 2024, Hall pleaded guilty to driving on a revoked/suspended license and driving 67 mph in a 45 mph zone on Sept. 26, 2024. That case remains under review.