Norfolk, VA – A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison after a shocking series of crimes, including the sexual assault of his own mother and the carjacking of a man, which occurred in January 2023 in Norfolk.
On the morning of January 7, 2023, Melvin O’Neal III visited his mother’s apartment on Wake Circle around 11 a.m. According to court documents, O’Neal called his mother into the bathroom under the pretense of checking something. Once she entered, he brutally assaulted her, beating her over the head, dragging her to a bedroom, and sexually assaulting her despite her attempts to resist.
After the attack, O’Neal demanded a cigarette from his mother, giving her a chance to flee the apartment and seek help.
Shortly after the assault, O’Neal encountered a man detailing his car nearby. While the car was still running, O’Neal climbed into the driver’s seat. When the owner confronted him, O’Neal threatened him by pretending to have a weapon. When the man refused to give up the vehicle, O’Neal reversed the car into a nearby residence. The confrontation escalated into a physical fight, during which O’Neal bit the man’s face, causing serious injury. Police arrived and took O’Neal into custody at the scene.
Authorities soon connected O’Neal to the sexual assault reported earlier. A sexual assault examination and evidence gathered from the mother’s residence supported the charges. O’Neal was subsequently charged with forcible sodomy, malicious wounding, assaulting a family member, carjacking, and unlawful wounding.
O’Neal’s defense cited a history of mental illness, substance abuse, and traumatic brain injury. He had reportedly been under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the offenses. He was initially deemed mentally unfit to stand trial but was later restored to competency.
In October 2024, a jury found O’Neal guilty of carjacking and unlawful wounding. On March 4, 2025, he pled guilty to sodomizing his mother and malicious wounding. Under a plea agreement, a second sodomy charge was dropped, and sentencing was left to the court’s discretion.
At a May 30 hearing, prosecutors recommended a minimum of 45 years in prison based on sentencing guidelines. Circuit Judge Tasha D. Scott ultimately imposed a life sentence for forcible sodomy, 10 years for malicious wounding, 20 years for carjacking, and three years for unlawful wounding.
O’Neal will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
