HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — The Chesterfield tow truck driver who drove off after hitting and killing Henrico Police Captain Donald Lambert Jr. was sentenced to nearly three decades in prison.
A judge sentenced 31-year-old Justin Regensburg Friday to 40 years in prison for felony homicide with 15 years suspended. He was also sentenced to five years for the hit and run with two years suspended. That is a total of 28 years.
Regensburg killed Lambert while the 55-year-old Glen Allen man was out for a Saturday morning run along Greenwood Road in February 2021. Regensburg was arrested the next day in King William County.
After pleading guilty to the crimes last fall, court documents show Regensburg is now cooperating with lawyers for Lambert's family in a civil case against the owner of the tow truck company.
Regensburg apologized to the numerous members of Lambert’s family attending the sentencing hearing on Friday.
“I made a bunch of stupid decisions,” said the defendant. “I wish I could take them back.”
A father of two young children and caregiver to three more, Regensburg expressed hope that one day the Lamberts could find it in their hearts to forgive him.
“I feel for you. I do,” Lambert’s oldest son Joshua told Regensburg as he looked him directly in the eye. “Everyone deserves grace but there are also consequences for our actions.”
Joshua read from a list of things his younger brother Caleb, who is currently serving in the military, says he can never forget. The list included his father’s face, the pain on his brother’s face when he shared the news and carrying his father’s ashes.
Lambert’s widow, Rebecca, recounted through tears the morning of February 27, 2021. She began jogging about ten minutes after her husband and eventually came upon the scene of the crash where she saw a sheet covering her husband’s body. The location on Greenwood Road is a place she passes multiple times a day near her home.
“I forgive you as God forgives me. But forgiveness is not forgetting,” said Becky Lambert. “I was so proud to be his wife.”
Citing the strong faith she shared with her husband, Becky noted that she prays Regensburg uses his time in prison to learn God’s word.
“We’re tempted to call things like this an accident, but it was not,” said Special Prosecutor Cathy Black as she asked the judge to imposed 22 to 28 years in prison. “This was a series of choices going back a long way.”
Prior to killing Lambert, Regensburg had been charged with and convicted of a number of traffic and criminal violations, according to Virginia Courts Database records.
In 2012, Regensburg was charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident in Chesterfield County.
He was also charged with driving on a suspended or revoked license.
That case was continued multiple times before the charges were ultimately nolle prossed, or set aside until a later date.
The next year, in Hanover County, Regensburg was charged with his second DWI in five years. In that case, he was convicted and sentenced to a year in prison. Most of that prison sentence was suspended.
Regensburg's license was suspended for three years as a result of that conviction.
Two years later, Regensburg was arrested again in Hanover and charged with failing to stop and eluding police and driving with a revoked or suspended license.
Regensburg was convicted of both.
The Chesterfield man has several other non-traffic-related criminal charges in his record as well.
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip.
