Fort Eustis woman pleads guilty to neglecting children, assaulting husband

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A woman residing on Fort Eustis pled guilty today to assault, driving under the influence of alcohol, and felony child neglect.

According to court documents, Rachel Lorane Pendergrast, 30, lived with her husband and children in military housing on Fort Eustis. On Dec. 3, 2025, she was responsible for the care of her three minor children while her husband was away from the home; the oldest child was at school/childcare and the younger two children were home with Pendergrast. Pendergrast began drinking vodka that morning. When she left her house to pick up her oldest child, she took her one-year-old with her and left her three-year-old alone at home.

Law enforcement received a call from Pendergrast's neighbor reporting that the three-year-old was standing at the edge of the roadway near the home, crying, and attempting to cross the street. The outside temperature was 48℉ and the child was wearing only a diaper and a t-shirt. Approximately 10 minutes later Pendergrast arrived with the other two children in the vehicle. When law enforcement arrived, they noted that she seemed disoriented and had glossy eyes and a strong smell of alcohol. Two preliminary breath tests registered .304 and .298 for Pendergrast's blood alcohol concentration. A test performed approximately five hours after driving showed Pendergrast's blood alcohol level was still .18.

On the morning of June 17, 2025, Pendergrast repeatedly struck her husband in the immediate presence of their five-year-old. The incident was captured on video. When responding officers arrived at the home, Pendergrast was passed out on the couch, intoxicated.

Pendergrast is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10 and faces up to seven years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division Washington Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Black is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District CourtLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. by searching for Case No. 4:26-cr-6.