Hopewell City councilor pleads not guilty to embezzling public funds

HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) -- Dominic Holloway, Sr., councilor for Hopewell's seventh ward, appeared in court on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty to embezzling public funds in connection with an incident in which hundreds of dollars were charged to a city credit card for food for an event.

Holloway appeared in court on Tuesday, July 29, and pleaded not guilty to the charge of embezzling public funds.

The Commonwealth said Holloway asked former city clerk Brittani Williams to buy $690 worth of food from a restaurant on June 30, 2023, for a funeral for Holloway's cousin.

Two days later, on July 1, 2023, the Commonwealth said Holloway officiated the funeral and brought the food to the apartment building where one of his family members lives.

Later, Mayor Johnny Partin reportedly saw these charges labeled as "funeral catering," which he did not approve, and asked for it to be paid back, the Commonwealth said.

Holloway's attorney, Todd DuVal, said the event at the apartment building was a public "Stop the Violence" event unrelated to the funeral with the message of gun violence awareness. He said that the preparation was underway for the event before the familial death and subsequent funeral.

DuVal further said that Williams had held similar events in the past and been reimbursed.

Further, DuVal argued that Holloway discussed the event with former city manager Concetta Manker, who reportedly directed Williams to use the card.

DuVal added that some of Holloway's family members attended the event, but that there were many other attendees and it was planned separately.

In early May, the Hopewell City Council voted 4-3 to fire Manker and Williams from their positions “without cause.” Manker has since filed a $6.8 million lawsuit against the city, claiming that not only was her firing racially motivated, but it was also done in such a way that violated the city council’s own rules.

The trial's second day is slated for Wednesday, July 30.