'Intolerable and heinous': Sussex prosecutor, state announce indictments in prison K-9 death

WAVERLY – Indictments have been brought against four known members of the MS-13 gang in an incident two months ago at Sussex I Prison that killed a K-9 corrections officer and seriously injured his handler.

The 20 indictments were announced Friday afternoon in a joint statement from Sussex County Commonwealth’s Attorney Regina Sykes and state Attorney General Jason Miyares. In it, Sykes thanked the attorney general’s office for its assistance in getting the charges, while Miyares said he was looking forward to “ensuring justice and accountability is achieved” in the prosecution.

K-9 Rivan, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, died April 2 while attempting to stop an attack on an inmate by the four gang members. The Virginia Department of Corrections said the dog was beaten and stabbed several times in coming to the aid of his handler, Officer Kharmishia Phillip-Fields, who was injured in the attack.

Following an investigation by VADOC and the Sussex prosecutor’s office, the following have been charged:

• Ronald Sanchez-Ramirez, 25: Killing or Injuring Police Animal, Malicious Wounding by Mob, Conspiracy to Commit Malicious Wounding by Mob, Gang Participation, Assault & Battery of a Law-Enforcement Officer, Stabbing in the Commission of a Felony, and Prisoner in Possession of a Deadly Weapon;
• Nelson Torres Alvarez, 23: Killing or Injuring Police Animal, Conspiracy to Commit Malicious Wounding by Mob, Gang Participation, Assault & Battery of a Law-Enforcement Officer, and Prisoner in Possession of a Deadly Weapon;
• Axel Wilfredo Ortiz Garcia, 26: Malicious Wounding by Mob, Conspiracy to Commit Malicious Wounding by Mob, Gang Participation, Prisoner in Possession of a Deadly Weapon, and Stabbing in the Commission of a Felony; and
• Jose Antonio Sagastume, 57: Malicious Wounding by Mob, Gang Participation, and Conspiracy to Commit Malicious Wounding by Mob.

The indictments were handed up June 12.

All four have been transferred from Sussex 1 Prison to Red Onion State Prison in Wise County pending their next court appearance July 9 in Sussex.

The attorney general’s office will lead the prosecution, with assistance from the Sussex commonwealth’s attorney.

“Our office is grateful and privileged to have the office of Attorney General Jason Miyares working on this case in Sussex County,” Sykes said in the statement. “This intolerable and heinous killing of K-9 Rivan has evoked outrage in our county and in the community at large. My office concurs with this sentiment and intends to pursue justice and retribution for K-9 Rivan’s demise.”

Both offices said they would not be commenting further on the case.

In a separate statement, VADOC director Chad Dotson said his department has pushed for prosecution “to the fullest extent of the law” ever since the incident happened. “Officer Phillip-Fields and Rivan deserve no less.”

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.