Category: Harvey Latney

Rulings delayed in Caroline slaying case

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Rulings delayed in Caroline slaying case:

A judge postponed ruling yesterday on whether to move the retrial of a Caroline County woman convicted of killing her law-enforcement husband.

Caroline Circuit Judge Horace A. Revercomb III also delayed ruling on whether jurors could hear about a life-insurance policy that was to benefit Donna L. Blanton. The prosecution argued during Blanton’s first trial that she was in financial straits.

Blanton, 42, is scheduled to be tried again starting Nov. 29 in the October 2003 killing of her husband, Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. Taylor V. Blanton.

She was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 28 years in prison during her first trial in 2005. But the Virginia Court of Appeals this year found that gender wrongly played a role in how Caroline Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Latney Jr. selected which potential jurors he did not want to hear the case.

During a pretrial hearing yesterday, Revercomb said he will first try to seat a jury, rather than ruling beforehand on the defense request to move the trial out of Caroline.

Blanton’s attorney, Mark Murphy, told the judge a defense-hired investigator conducted an informal survey of 100 county residents and found that 44 percent of them did not believe Blanton could get a fair trial in the county. He also said 90 percent of those surveyed knew Blanton had been convicted of murder and that those people also knew the retrial was granted because of a legal technicality related to the jury.

Bull. Are you saying that all 100 people that you surveyed knew who Donna Blanton was and there was a trial? I find that hard to believe when only around 25% of people in the county bother to come out to vote (6,811 or so voters in the last election, 15,345 or so registered voters, 27,000 or so people in county).

And 90% bothered to follow the trial from arraignment, trial, to appeal? Again, bull.

I’m sure I could “conduct an informal survey of 100 county residents” and get results that 90% of “county residents” have never heard of Donna Blanton!

“The prejudice against Ms. Blanton is widespread in the citizenry,” he said.

The truth is prejudice?

Murphy also said widespread media coverage, some of which he said included inaccuracies, could hinder his client’s chances of getting a fair trial in Caroline.

Eh? What inaccuracies? Please provide a list.

Latney countered that the survey was unscientific.

Alright, I agree with Latney for once…

Court officials have summoned more than 175 potential jurors for Blanton’s new trial, far more than for her first trial.

Blanton, who did not testify during her trial, told police an unidentified man broke into the couple’s home before dawn on Oct. 16, 2003, shot her 46-year-old husband in the couple’s bed while their children were at home and then fled.

She told investigators she fired at the fleeing killer, but police found no sign of a break-in or footprints on the dew-covered grass, and she quickly became a suspect.

Nice one Kiran. Stick it to Murphy!

Witnesses sought in Raquel Hunter case

From The Free Lance-Star: Witnesses sought in shooting case:

Two men are believed to have been with Lashawn Montque Monroe Saturday night when a teenager was shot in the head and killed in Caroline County.

Monroe, 22, was later charged with the murder of 16-year-old Raquel Hunter of Ruther Glen and was also charged with possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. At his arraignment yesterday, a preliminary hearing date was set for Jan. 15, 2008. He requested a court-appointed attorney, but one has yet to be assigned.

A search warrant filed yesterday in circuit court says Monroe told police he traveled in a 1993 Dodge Caravan with two other people to the Madison Ruritan Club, where the shooting occurred.

[…]

These recent charges are not the first for Monroe in Caroline County. He had a 2004 concealed weapon charge following stabbings and shootings at a party. That charge was later dropped.

And he has convictions in General District Court for trespassing on private property and littering.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Latney has refused to discuss the cases. Court records do not say why the weapons charge was dropped.

Caroline man’s trial in manslaughter case expected to be postponed

From The Free Lance-Star: Caroline man’s trial in manslaughter case expected to be postponed:

The two-day jury trial of a Caroline County man charged with manslaughter scheduled to start today is expected to be postponed until next year.

According to a court order last week, Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Latney asked the court to appoint a “substitute attorney” in the case of John Wayne Peck, 27, because “it would be improper for him to act.”

Judge Horace Revercomb then appointed Spotsylvania Commonwealth’s Attorney Bill Neely to the case and the jury was called off.

Neely said yesterday the reason Latney asked to be excused from trying the case was because of complaints.

“Apparently, the victim’s family was upset in the handling of the case,” Neely said.

Latney’s motion came before he lost last week’s race for re-election to Tony Spencer, who takes over the office in January.

Latney refused to talk about why he would not prosecute Peck.

Neely said that after the election, he called Revercomb and asked if Spencer could be put on the case. There should be a decision in Circuit Court today.

Peck was charged with first degree murder in October 2006 after his hunting buddy, Jerry Curtis Beverly, was fatally shot in the chest. Latney later reduced his charge to manslaughter.

Sheriff Tony Lippa said Peck and Beverly had been hunting and drinking before getting into an argument. Beverly was later found dead.

Comment that was left:

Lesa said,

November 14, 2007 at 1:48 pm

I am the victim’s daughter in this case. I want to first say Thank you for your concern for my family. We are not at all disappointed about having to wait until next year to have the case tried. We fought hard to get Mr. Latney off my father’s case. So today was a bittersweet day. We were happy to have Mr. Latney off the case, but never the less it does not change the fact that my father is not here.
I feel strongly that with Mr. Spencer as Commonwealth victim’s rights will no longer be trampled on.

No bond for Lashawn Monroe

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: No bond for slaying suspect:

Lashawn Monroe, 22, accused in the slaying of a 16-year-old Saturday outside a Ruritan clubhouse in Caroline County, will stay locked up at least until he gets a lawyer.

At a hearing yesterday morning on charges of murder and illegal use of a firearm in Caroline Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Judge Phillip U. Fines ordered Monroe held without bond at least until he is represented by a lawyer.

The next scheduled hearing for Monroe is Jan. 15.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Weise said the state will oppose any bail for Monroe.

The body of the victim, Raquel Hunter, was found on the ground outside the Madison Ruritan Club hall in Ladysmith about 11 p.m. Saturday. The hall had been rented for a birthday party for another teen. That party started about 7 p.m. and was just ending when the shooting occurred.

Monroe and a juvenile who was injured were later located by police at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg and Monroe was arrested, authorities said.

Monroe told an investigator that he fired shots during the incident, according to a court affidavit filed yesterday in connection with a search warrant issued in the case.

Authorities searched a 1993 Dodge minivan that they say Monroe was riding in when he arrived at the birthday party. Investigators were looking for cartridge casings, gunshot residue, DNA, fingerprints and other potential evidence.

They seized several clothing items and a front passenger-seat headrest cover.

“Monroe also told [an investigator] that he had a firearm on his person while in the vehicle and did fire shots during the time of the incident,” an investigator wrote in the affidavit, which also revealed that Hunter had apparently been shot in the head.

After talking with Monroe, who had sought medical treatment at the Fredericksburg hospital for what police described as a grazing gunshot wound, authorities stopped the Dodge minivan with two other people inside it. Court papers described the occupants as possible witnesses or accomplices.

Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa Jr. said Monday that Monroe was the only suspect at that time. Lippa could not be reached for additional information last night.

Also yesterday, Caroline Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Latney Jr. said he decided in 2005 not to prosecute Monroe on a concealed-weapons charge because “the evidence wasn’t there.”

And it only took you five hearings and 228 days to figure it out…

Great lawyering there…

That charge arose from a 2004 Labor Day weekend melee at the Dawn Progressive Center. Several suspects were charged in that incident, in which eight people were shot and two stabbed.

“If I could have prosecuted, I would have,” Latney said.

Just like you would have prosecuted Irvin Stevens, Saleem Stevens, Sherenda Stevens, Edward Arrington, Jermaine Shepherd, ad infinitum and ad nauseam.

Also according to records from Caroline General District Court, Monroe was charged in March with trespassing, was subsequently found guilty and fined $50 plus court costs of $76.

Latney lost his campaign for another term in last week’s election to Anthony G. “Tony” Spencer, who accused Latney of dropping too many charges and making too many plea deals.

One Teen Fatally Shot – Another Teen Injured, Caroline County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Perpetrator

From the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office: One Teen Fatally Shot – Another Teen Injured, Caroline County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Perpetrator:

According to Sheriff Tony Lippa, at approximately 11:06 pm, last night November 10, 2007 the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Madison Ruritan Club, 18206 Timothy Drive, Ladysmith, in reference to a shooting. The Ruritan Club was rented for a 16th birthday party celebration. Sgt. Lambert was the first unit to arrive at approximately 11:12pm, along with Caroline County Fire and Rescue, 12 other Sheriff’s Office personnel, and approximately eight Virginia State Police Troopers and one Sergeant.

Investigator J. W. McCarty is the lead investigator and upon consulting with the Caroline County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Mr. Harvey Latney, warrants were obtained. Subsequently, Lashawn Montque Monroe, 22, of 12438 Golansville Road, Ruther Glen, VA, was charged and arrested for:

  1. Murder
  2. Use of a firearm in the connection of a felony

Monroe is being held without bond in the Pamunkey Regional Jail until 11/13/07 for a bond hearing in the Caroline County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim, a 16 year old, was lying on the ground of the parking lot approximately 30 yards from the front door. The perpetrator(s) left the scene. Another teen arrived at Mary Washington Hospital with an apparent gunshot wound. This other teen is 15 years of age and the shootings are related. This is an extensive on-going investigation and no further details will be released at this time,” according to Sheriff Lippa.

UPDATE: From The Free Lance-Star: Sweet 16 party turns deadly:

The suspect arrested—Lashawn Montque Monroe, 22, of Ruther Glen—also was charged the last time a party erupted into violence in Caroline.

That was in September 2004, when eight people were stabbed and two were shot during an early morning gathering at the Dawn Progressive Center.

In 2004, Monroe was charged with having a concealed weapon, but the charge was later dropped.

UPDATE #2: From the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office: *UPDATE* One Teen Fatally Shot – Another Teen Injured, Caroline County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Perpetrator:

According to Sheriff Tony Lippa, at approximately 11:06 pm on November 10, 2007 the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Madison Ruritan Club building on Timothy Drive in Ladysmith for a reported shooting. The building had been rented for a 16th birthday party with adult chaperones present. 12 Sheriff’s Office deputies and one sergeant responded along with approximately eight State Police Troopers and one State Police Sergeant.

Lead Investigator J. W. McCarty has obtained and served warrants on Lashawn Montque Monroe, 22, of Golansville Road in Ruther Glen. The charges are:

  1. Murder of Raquel Hunter, 16, of Ruther Glen
  2. Use of a firearm in the commission of a felony

Monroe is being held without bond in the Pamunkey Regional Jail until his arraignment in the Caroline County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court on November 13th.

“Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was lying on the ground outside the building. The suspects were not on scene. Based on a lookout issued by Caroline, officers from Fredericksburg and the State Police detained 2 subjects as they arrived at Mary Washington Hospital seeking treatment for apparent gunshot wounds. The suspect and a juvenile were turned over to Caroline investigators and the warrants were served. This is still an active investigation and no further details will be released at this time,” according to Sheriff Lippa.

UPDATE #3: From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Caroline slaying suspect faced weapons charge in ’04:

A Caroline County man charged with murder in the weekend shooting of a teenager at a Ruritan clubhouse was arrested three years ago in a melee at another civic organization.

Lashawn Monroe, 22, was one of several people arrested after a Labor Day weekend shoot-up during a late-night party at the Dawn Progressive Center in September 2004. Eight people were shot and two were stabbed, but no one died in that incident.

Then 19, Monroe was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, but Caroline Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Latney Jr. told a judge several months later that he had decided not to prosecute.

Now, Monroe is charged with murder in the slaying of Raquel Hunter, 16, at the Madison Ruritan Club on Saturday about 11 p.m. Monroe was being held at the Pamunkey Regional Jail pending an initial scheduled appearance in Caroline Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court today.

Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa Jr. said yesterday that the event Saturday, a birthday party for another 16-year-old, was being chaperoned by adults. “Good, church-going people,” he said.

Ah, I forgot to thank someone…

You, Governor Kaine!

You decided to stick your nose in local politics and send out letters supporting Harvey Latney to Democrats.

I’m sure that sat well with people in Caroline County! Nothing like someone fifty miles away with no idea of what’s going on in a locale endorsing someone!

If anyone has a copy of the letter they’re willing to supply to me, send me an email at CorranH96@gmail.com or use my contact me page.

Thanks!

Port Royal precinct roundup

§ 24.2-310. Requirements for polling places:

E. It shall be permissible to distribute campaign materials on the election day on the property on which a polling place is located and outside of the building containing the polling place except as specifically prohibited by law including, without limitation, the prohibitions of § 24.2-604 and the establishment of the “Prohibited Area” within 40 feet of the entrance to a polling place.

§ 24.2-604. Prohibited activities at polls; notice of prohibited area; presence of representatives of parties or candidates; simulated elections; penalties; neutral observers; news media.

A. During the times the polls are open and ballots are being counted, it shall be unlawful for any person (i) to loiter or congregate within 40 feet of any entrance of any polling place; (ii) within such distance to give, tender, or exhibit any ballot, ticket, or other campaign material to any person or to solicit or in any manner attempt to influence any person in casting his vote; or (iii) to hinder or delay a qualified voter in entering or leaving a polling place.

[…]

E. The officers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this section to remain outside of the prohibited area. Any person violating subsection A or D of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Apparently, the Harvey Latney supporters don’t seem to understand that. Mrs. Calvin Taylor and as identified to me, Latney’s uncle and aunt:

I guess the rules don’t apply to them.

They were told to move the sign once it was brought to the attention of the election officials (by the way, the sign on the right is one advertising the fire department as the polling place and not a sign for a candidate).

In other news, Robert Wittman (or one of his helpers) doesn’t know how to drive. A Jeep Cherokee with House of Delegates tag 99 (as in the 99th House of Delegates district) was seen flying through Port Royal at what appeared to be around 40 MPH (the speed limit once you turn off of Route 301 is 25 MPH). He was seen swerving around on the road as well.

And in closing, I would just like to say thanks to you Maxie Rozell and Pamela Mastropaolo!

A two act show

U2 – “Beautiful Day”:

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omFdpnSu57U]

Steam – “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”:

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwnqqj5Q1BU]

Goodbye Calvin Taylor, Harvey Latney, and Homer Johnson (again)!

Damn fine job there Maxie!

Race Candidate Vote Vote%
Clerk of Court      
 

Ray Smith Campbell, Jr.

3,978

65.57%
 

Terry M. Southworth

2,088

34.42%
Commonwealth’s Attorney

 

    
 

Anthony G. “Tony” Spencer

4,038

60.10%
 

Harvey Latney, Jr.

2,680

39.89%
Sheriff      
 

A. A. “Tony” Lippa, Jr.

4,748

69.74%
 

Homer G. Johnson

1,487

21.84%
 

Jack E. Braxton, Jr.

573

8.41%

Board of Supervisors – Bowling Green

      
 

Damon L. Gray, Sr.

312

20.29%
 

George L. Spaulding, Jr.

522

33.96%
 

Jeffery M. “Jeff” Sili

703

45.73%
Board of Supervisors – Madison      
 

John C. Green

664

43.77%
 

Wayne A. Acors

853

56.22%
Board of Supervisors – Mattaponi      
 

Floyd W. Thomas

711

59.94%
 

William O. “Bill” Pickett

475

40.05%
Board of Supervisors – Port Royal      
 

Bobby J. Popowicz, Jr.

597

52.46%
 

Calvin B. Taylor, Sr.

541

47.53%
School Board – Bowling Green      
 

Kerry L. Bischoff

697

47.12%
 

Tamara Lyn “Tami” Redding

782

52.87%
School Board – Madison      
 

Bruce J. Levy

534

36.87%
 

William A. “Bill” Anderson

914

63.12%

Permanent top post through election day (scroll down for newer stuff)

Here are some quotes to consider going into election day:

Sheriff’s race:

“I’m going to stand for loyalty, integrity, pride, professionalism and accountability,” said Lippa, a 24-year veteran of the state police. “I think the citizens of this county deserve that.”

Lippa, 49, said he wants to see Caroline sheriff’s deputies taking advantage of the same training and education as the troopers he supervises at the state police field office in Bowling Green.

“They need to be a step above the crime and the criminals,” Lippa said. “The more education they can have, the better they will be.”

[…]

“I don’t know what Tony’s talking about, I’ve never been arrested,” Johnson said.

The former state police sergeant has already moved into his new office, appointed a command staff, promoted from within and hired experienced law enforcement officers from around the region to join him when he officially becomes Sheriff Lippa tomorrow morning.

The 24-year veteran of the Virginia State Police trampled 12-year incumbent Sheriff Homer Johnson in the November election, winning by 66 percent of the vote.

Now, Lippa, 48, wants to make sure he doesn’t let voters down.

“Obviously, the people of Caroline thought it was time for drastic changes, and that’s what I’m here to do,” he said.

One of his first moves was to hire two new female deputies–and he hopes to add a third.

“The Sheriff’s Office hasn’t had a female deputy on patrol in 12 years,” he said.

He’s also beefing up the school resource program by adding a third deputy to work high school hallways when the other two are off duty or called away for court.

Lippa has already moved the Sheriff’s Office administrative staff out of their tiny cramped quarters and into the former county prosecutor’s office.

He’s been talking with county officials about moving the entire Sheriff’s Office to the old courthouse building now that the new courthouse complex is finished.

Just weeks after the election, he asked for resumes from all 41 Sheriff’s Office employees and has reappointed each of them, in some cases promoting officers or moving them into specialized areas to utilize their expertise.

He’s also ordered new shirts, with colorful county-seal patches emblazoned on the sleeves, for everyone in the department.

“There was concern about morale with a new sheriff taking over, but morale has been tremendous,” Lippa said.

Lippa hired an old friend as his second-in-command at the Sheriff’s Office. Former state police Special Agent Mike Hall will take over as major on Friday.

Hall headed up the regional drug task force in recent years, and tackling drug problems is one of Lippa’s first priorities.

Sheriff’s Capt. Scott Moser, formerly Johnson’s second-in-command, will take over the department’s investigative unit.

Spotsylvania sheriff’s Detective Bobby Jones has also moved to Lippa’s team as an investigator, bringing 21 years’ experience.

“I’m trying to branch out and put good people in the areas they know best,” he said.

Commonwealth’s Attorney’s race:

  • Richmond Times-Dispatch, November 1, 2007:

Shelia Mae Boone pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of federal bank fraud for writing one $1,000 check to herself on the account of the lawyer for whom she worked.

That lawyer is Harvey Latney Jr., who works part time as the commonwealth’s attorney in Caroline County in addition to his private law practice. Boone was his only employee.

U.S. District Court documents on Boone describe a period of at least two years when she was forging checks on bank accounts set up by Latney for money he was holding for clients and estates he was handling.

[…]

A statement filed with her guilty plea yesterday states that she stole a total of $92,930.42, including the $1,000. That leaves at least $178,000 not accounted for by Boone’s plea agreement or statement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Gill declined to comment on the case.

Boone’s lawyer, Arnold Henderson, said he agreed with federal prosecutors that the single bank-fraud count “was the appropriate charge to bring” against his client.

“I don’t know what’s truly missing from Mr. Latney’s accounts,” Henderson said. “My investigation does not reveal that Ms. Boone had any involvement above [the $92,930.82].”

George Chabalewski, counsel for the Virginia State Bar, confirmed last month that the bar has opened an investigation of Latney because of the missing money. Chabalewski would not say who initiated the bar complaint or provide other details.

[…]

Members of the Williams family had been complaining at least since last year about how long Latney was taking to settle the estate. One of the city’s commissioners of accounts started looking into the complaints and eventually discovered money was missing.

Board of Supervisors:

Caroline County’s future is unfolding as construction begins on the new Pendleton subdivision.

The 3,500-home neighborhood is going up on nearly 1,200 acres in Ladysmith on U.S. 1 and State Route 639 between two other subdivisions, Lake Caroline and Lake Land’Or.

[…]

“I don’t think it will bring citizens who will be a burden to the county,” he said. “The houses are nice houses. They are probably middle and upper-income houses, and will probably bring citizens who will enhance the county.”

As opposed to us lowly serfs in the Port Royal district I guess…

Hawaii may be famous for its sand and surf, but Stafford County Supervisor Bob Gibbons says he’s more interested in the island state’s roads.

Gibbons is one of three supervisors in the Fredericksburg area who plan to fly to Honolulu next month to attend the National Association of Counties’ five-day annual conference.

But Gibbons and Caroline County Supervisors Wayne Acors and Calvin Taylor say the July 15-19 session will be a working trip.

“Hawaii is one of the leading states on the program they have done for their rural roads,” Gibbons said. “We are going to look at them and try to understand how they did it.”

[…]

Most supervisors in the Fredericksburg area opted out of the trip for varying reasons. Spotsylvania County, for instance, discontinued its NACO membership last year.

[…]

Stafford and Caroline counties will pay $415 for the conference registration for their supervisors, plus costs for meals and transportation. Caroline’s supervisors will fly on economy seats for $740 each. Stafford officials were still unsure about travel costs yesterday.

[…]

Officials in both counties said they could not verify hotel costs, which range from $179 to $295, according to an online hotel reservation form for attendees.

Advertisements for one of the hotels, The Royal Hawaiian, state that “the beach is at the guest’s disposal.” But supervisors say they’ll spend most of the day in conferences, soaking up information instead of rays.

[…]

Still, Caroline’s decision to fund the trip could pose political risks. Some residents have criticized supervisors for considering a 2 percent gas tax to fund transportation improvements.

Supervisors said the county’s road needs cost much more than a trip to Hawaii.

“You’re not going to pave roads for $3,500,” Taylor said.

Really? Then why does your own budget say that $12,703 was spent on travel expenses, along with $1,411 for the NACO membership, and $2,943 for “meals and food supplies”? Can you pave roads with $17,057?

Caroline supervisors voted 4-1 last night to rezone a 377-acre farm to allow the State Fair to move to the county by 2007.

[…]

Jayne Massie, who lives in the Reedy Church District, said she is worried about traffic backups on State Route 30. Fair officials say most traffic will come from Interstate 95, but Massie disagreed.

[…]

“The worksheet indicated that the State Fair’s move to Meadow Farm may not be a direct revenue generator for the county, but it should not be a source significant cost either,” Sieg said.

But Sieg’s numbers don’t include Sheriff Tony Lippa’s projected financial impact on his department. Lippa urged the board to delay a vote on the fair.

“If we should have an event that includes mutual aid, who’s gonna reimburse us?” he asked.

Lippa also thought he and Fire and Rescue Director Ed Fuzy should have power to sign off on security plans for all fair events.

“You’re going to give up control if you don’t have that condition in there,” he said.

Richmond Times-Dispatch election coverage:

From Richmond Times-Dispatch: Law enforcement gets attention in Caroline:

Law and order are generating a lot of talk on the campaign trail in Caroline County.

Two candidates hope to unseat Sheriff A.A. “Tony” Lippa Jr. on Tuesday, while Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Latney Jr. faces his first opponent in nearly 30 years.

In the sheriff’s race, Homer G. Johnson wants to reclaim the position he lost to Lippa four years ago. Johnson, running as a Democrat, was sheriff for 12 years. Also in the race is Jack E. Braxton Jr., a career law-enforcement officer who, like Lippa, is running as an independent.

Johnson, who started his career as a Caroline deputy in 1971, said that if elected again, he would focus his efforts more on criminal investigations than traffic enforcement.

“The sheriff’s office needs to be more than just a traffic commission,” he said.

Then why did your platform summary in 2003 include the following: “to expand traffic control programs”?

Johnson also said he wants to get ahead of illegal immigration in the county before it becomes a problem, and that deputies should be county residents.

And you’ll tell your deputies they better stop their schooling!

Lippa, a longtime Caroline resident who was a Henrico County police officer before serving 24 years with Virginia State Police, says he has markedly increased the professionalism of the department. He cites his efforts to win accreditation and certification for the department, as well as starting programs such as Project Livesaver, which helps the department track memory-impaired individuals who might wander from home.

Lippa takes issue with Johnson’s contention that crime has increased in Caroline during the past four years. Lippa says deputies in his administration have arrested more people than did deputies under Johnson.

“Our men and women have gone out and been proactive,” Lippa said.

Braxton, who served with the Washington police and U.S. Marshals Service, said he wants to seek funding to increase hiring, buy equipment and improve training.

Braxton, who moved back to Caroline in 2006, also wants to start a Crime Solvers reward fund — he has pledged $10,000 from his salary if elected — and says he would form a community advisory commission and meet with it regularly.

Lippa says he already has civilian and business advisory teams, to which Braxton replies, “If he does, he must be keeping it a good secret.”

How the hell would you know? You only moved back to the county in 2006! And you still stay in Maryland half the time!

. . .

In the race for commonwealth’s attorney, challenger Anthony G. “Tony” Spencer pledges to be a full-time prosecutor. A former deputy prosecutor in Richmond, he accuses Latney, who holds the position on a part-time basis, of agreeing to dismiss or reduce too many cases.

Spencer, who grew up in Caroline and recently moved back to the county, also notes that several defense attorneys, some of whom oppose Latney in court, have contributed to Latney’s re-election campaign.

“Follow the money, you’ll see” who wants whom to be elected, said Spencer, who is running as an independent.

Latney, a Democrat, says the charges are without merit. He says Spencer does not know the reasons behind case dismissals. And Latney says he is able to handle Caroline’s criminal docket while he maintains his private law practice in Richmond.

How’s that Virginia State Bar investigation going? How about that lawsuit against you from the family of Florence Williams?

As for defense attorneys contributing to his campaign, Latney says, “My friends are people in the legal profession. They have contributed to me because they believe I do a good job for the community. That’s all it is. Period.”

“And I think, too, that I can say that in my years of public life, that I welcome this kind of examination because people have got to know whether or not their [Commonwealth’s Attorney]’s a crook. Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got.” -Paraphrase of Richard Nixon.

Famous last words…

. . .

The election also features a contest for Circuit Court clerk between Republican incumbent Ray S. Campbell Jr., who says he would like to improve technology use by electronically recording deeds and scanning case files, and General District Court Clerk Terry Southworth, an independent who says she would like to improve customer service and organization of the Circuit Court clerk’s office.

Figured out how to comply with state law about the issuing of concealed handgun permits yet Ray?

In contests for the Board of Supervisors, recruiting businesses and keeping watch over residential growth are big issues, and two challengers are trying again to unseat incumbents to whom they lost in 2003.

John C. Green, a paramedic, is again taking on Wayne A. Acors, who has held the Madison District seat for 20 years. Republican Bobby J. Popowicz Jr., a bank loan officer, is again trying to unseat Calvin B. Taylor Sr., the Port Royal District supervisor since 1992.

Three candidates are vying for the seat being vacated by longtime Bowling Green District Supervisor Robert W. Farmer. Republican Jeff Sili, who has served on the School Board, will try again — he lost a bid in 2003. He faces George L. Spaulding Jr., a longtime School Board member, coach and educator, as well as Damon L. Gray Sr., a building contractor.

Democrat Floyd W. Thomas, who has held the Mattaponi District seat since 1992, faces challenger William O. “Bill” Pickett, operations manager at a local lumber company. Current Chairman David M. “Maxie” Rozell Jr. is unopposed in the Reedy Church District.

Yes, I know, it’s unfortunate, isn’t it?

Two of five School Board seats are challenged: Kerry L. Bischoff faces Tamara Lyn “Tami” Redding for the open Bowling Green District seat, while Chairman William A. “Bill” Anderson faces challenger Bruce J. Levy.