Norfolk School Board member Adale Martin is accused, according to a court filing, of violating the terms of the sentence she received after pleading guilty to DWI earlier this year — and the matter won't be resolved until after voters decide whether to send her back to the board. Martin, who represents Ward 1 and is seeking reelection, now has a court hearing scheduled for Nov. 17, nearly two weeks after the Nov. 3 general election.
The accusation surfaced in court records reviewed by WAVY.com, which reported that an Oct. 10 case update lists a “non-compliance with VASAP” offense tied to Martin's sentencing. The station said it was still working to confirm the exact nature of the alleged violation, and it reached out to Martin's attorney for more information, saying it plans to update its reporting if it hears back.
Court documents cited in the same report show an Oct. 20 hearing in the matter was continued and rescheduled for Nov. 17 — a date that falls after the general election in which Martin's name appears on the ballot as an incumbent candidate, per her candidate profile. Martin has served on the Norfolk School Board since she was first elected in 2018, and she was reelected in 2022.
How the DWI Case Began
The sentencing terms now in question stem from a DWI case out of Newport News. Court documents say police observed Martin, 49, shortly after 6 p.m. on Sept. 28 on Jefferson Avenue near Oyster Point, where officers said she nearly collided with another vehicle, put her car in reverse in the middle of the street, then made an erratic left turn before she was stopped. Her blood alcohol content was measured at .14, well above the .08 intoxication threshold, the station's report notes.
Martin pleaded guilty to one count of DWI in Newport News General District Court. Under her agreement with the Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, she was ordered to pay a $250 fine, maintain a restricted license for one year and complete the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program, often referred to as VASAP. The state program cannot be entered unless it meets certification standards set by the Commission on VASAP, under Virginia law.
The Daily Press previously reported on Martin's guilty plea back in February, describing her as a member who represents the 1st Ward. That outlet's account of her sentencing differs on one point: it reported Martin would be required to use a remote alcohol-monitoring device in her car for one year, rather than the one-year restricted license, fine and VASAP terms described in the more recent report. The two accounts have not been reconciled.
What Virginia Law Allows if a Violation Is Found
Martin's broader driving record includes three speeding violations since 2016, in which she exceeded posted limits by 25 mph, 19 mph and 20 mph, according to the same sentencing coverage. Her current school board term expires at the end of this calendar year, regardless of the outcome of her reelection bid.
Under Virginia Code, a court that finds a violation of a suspended sentence or probation may revoke the suspension and impose or resuspend some or all of the previously suspended period, when the violation is based on a subsequent criminal conviction or another qualifying condition. The statute's language is conditional, and nothing in the available record establishes what action a court would take in Martin's case. Separately, state law also sets a timing requirement for revocation hearings, generally requiring that notice or process be issued within 90 days of a court receiving word of an alleged violation, or within one year after the probation or suspension period ends, whichever comes first.
For now, the exact conduct behind the alleged VASAP non-compliance remains unconfirmed, and no court finding on the accusation has been reported. Voters will cast ballots in the Ward 1 race on Nov. 3, two weeks before the rescheduled hearing is set to take place.
