Anyone notice a similarity here?

This is an article by Ellen Biltz that appeared in the February 1, 2008, edition of The Free Lance-Star: Spotsylvania deputy faces abuse charge in Caroline:

A Spotsylvania County sheriff’s deputy has been charged in Caroline County with sexually abusing a child.

Richard E. Lloyd Jr., 38, of Dawn is charged with aggravated sexual battery and taking indecent liberties with a child.

Spotsylvania Sheriff Howard Smith said Lloyd is on administrative leave from the office and that the issue was a personnel matter.

Lloyd was arrested Jan. 23 on the charges and was released from Pamunkey Regional Jail on a personal recognizance bond. The child is related to Lloyd, authorities said.

Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa said Lloyd’s arrest stemmed from a call from the Department of Social Services requesting assistance.

Online court records show that Lloyd is set for a jury trial May 28 in Caroline County Circuit Court.

A special prosecutor from the Goochland County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will be trying the case.

This is an article by Toni Stinson that appeared in the February 6, 2008, edition of The Caroline Progress: Spotsylvania Deputy arrested in Caroline:

A Spotsylvania County sheriff’s deputy has been charged in Caroline County with indecent liberties with a minor and aggravated sexual battery on January 23.

Lloyd is on administrative leave from the Spotsylvania sheriff’s office said a representative of the sheriff’s office and that the issue is a personnel matter.

Lloyd was arrested Jan. 23 on the charges and was released from Pamunkey Regional Jail on a personal recognizance bond. Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa said Lloyd’s arrest stemmed from a call from the Department of Social Services requesting assistance.

The incident originated as a call for service from social services. After the investigator assigned to the call completed her inquiry, direct indictments were sought and obtained from Caroline Circuit Court.

Online court records show that Lloyd is set for a jury trial May 28 in Caroline County Circuit Court.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Tony Spencer issued an information on Lloyd which allowed law enforcement to immediately pick him up without the preliminary hearing. The information is just like an indictment, but is signed by the Commonwealth’s Attorney, which allows law enforcement to move quickly.

Originally assigned to the case was the new incoming Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Diane Abato. Abato had previously represented Lloyd’s ex-wife in a custody hearing, so a special prosecutor from the Goochland County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will be trying the case. Goochland’s Commonwealth’s Attorney Claiborne Stokes has acknowledged that Nancy Oglesby will be assigned to the case.

For those out there that are dense, I’ll highlight the parts that are exactly the same, from Stinson’s story:

A Spotsylvania County sheriff’s deputy has been charged in Caroline County with [first paragraph of Biltz’s story -ed.] indecent liberties with a minor and aggravated sexual battery on January 23.

Lloyd is on administrative leave from the Spotsylvania sheriff’s office said a representative of the sheriff’s office and that the issue is a personnel matter. [third paragraph -ed.]

Notice that Stinson didn’t include paragraph two of Biltz’s story which identified Lloyd’s full name and residence. That’s usually something pretty important in a story, no?

Lloyd was arrested Jan. 23 on the charges and was released from Pamunkey Regional Jail on a personal recognizance bond. [fourth paragraph -ed.] Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa said Lloyd’s arrest stemmed from a call from the Department of Social Services requesting assistance. [fifth paragraph -ed.]

The incident originated as a call for service from social services. After the investigator assigned to the call completed her inquiry, direct indictments were sought and obtained from Caroline Circuit Court.

Online court records show that Lloyd is set for a jury trial May 28 in Caroline County Circuit Court. [sixth paragraph -ed.]

Commonwealth’s Attorney Tony Spencer issued an information on Lloyd which allowed law enforcement to immediately pick him up without the preliminary hearing. The information is just like an indictment, but is signed by the Commonwealth’s Attorney, which allows law enforcement to move quickly.

Originally assigned to the case was the new incoming Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Diane Abato. Abato had previously represented Lloyd’s ex-wife in a custody hearing, so a special prosecutor from the Goochland County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will be trying the case. [seventh paragraph -ed.] Goochland’s Commonwealth’s Attorney Claiborne Stokes has acknowledged that Nancy Oglesby will be assigned to the case.

Notice that “sheriff’s deputy” is not capitalized in both stories, that Lippa is referred to as “Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa” in both stories, and that “Goochland County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office” is exactly the same in both stories.

Also notice that in the original mention of “January 23” that January is spelled out (first paragraph of Stinson’s story); however, in the copy and paste portion, “Jan.” is abbreviated just like in Biltz’s story (paragraph three of Stinson’s, paragraph four of Biltz’s).