Weekly News Media Briefs – Week Ending July 26, 2008

From the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office:

On July 24, 2008, Deputy J.K Miller and Investigator M.M. Ellett conducted a follow-up investigation of a destruction of property, which occurred on October 17, 2007 in Ruther Glen. After investigating, Lloyd W. Thompkins, Jr., 22, of Ruther Glen was charged with Breaking and Entering and Destruction of Property. He was released on his own recognizance and a court date of August 1, 2008 was set.

On July 19, 2008, Deputy F.L. Brennan responded to Ruther Glen for a domestic disturbance. After investigating, Adam S. Seal, 32, of Ruther Glen was charged with Domestic Assault. He was arrested on July 20, 2008 by Sgt. M.W. Turner. He was released on his own recognizance and a court date of July 24, 2008 was set.

On July 19, 2008, Deputy J.K. Miller responded to Milford for a domestic disturbance. After investigating, Tony D. Barner, 23, of Milford was charged with domestic assault. He has a pending court date in Caroline Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

On July 20, 2008, Sgt. R.L. Hixson stopped Annmarie Lampersberger, 48, of Prince George for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, Lampersberger was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. She was held on a $2,000 secured bond and has a pending court date.

On July 21, 2008, Deputy B.N. Doucet responded to a Ruther Glen business for a shoplifting. After investigating, a female juvenile was charged with shoplifting. She has a pending court date in Caroline J&DR Court.

On July 21, 2008, Deputy S. Mullane stopped Alvin L. Shepherd, 46, of Bowling Green for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, Shepherd was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, 2nd offense, and Driving Suspended. He was held on a $2,500 secured bond and a court date of July 23, 2008 was set.

On July 22, 2008, Deputy T.P. Connolly stopped Gustive P. Stephens, 34, of Woodford for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, Stephens was charged with Driving while Revoked, Driving after Forfeiture of License and Possession of a Concealed Weapon by a Convicted Felon. He was ordered held without bond and a court date of July 23, 2008 was set. Additionally, a passenger in the vehicle, Christopher A. Thomas, 24 of Spotsylvania was arrested on an outstanding Possession of Marijuana warrant out of Orange County and an outstanding Capias out of Spotsylvania County. Thomas was ordered held without bond and a court date of July 24, 2008 was set.

On July 23, 2008, Deputy J.K. Miller responded to a Ruther Glen business for a disorderly subject. Upon further investigation, Richard P. Bender, 54, of Vero Beach, Florida was charged with being Drunk in Public. He was released on his own recognizance and a court date of September 17, 2008 was set.

On July 23, 2008, Deputy J.K. Miller charged Sandra F. Phelps, 42, of Woodford for Filing a False Police Report. This incident was related to an incident, which occurred on March 23, 2008. Phelps was released on her own recognizance and a court date of August 8, 2008 was set.

On July 24, 2008, Deputy C.M. Hall responded to Bowling Green for a protective order complaint. Upon further investigation Kimberly S. Ackerman, 46, of Woodford was charged with Violation of a Protective Order. She was released on her recognizance and a court date of August 5, 2008 was set.

On July 25, 2008, Deputy J.O. Cecil responded to Milford for a domestic disturbance. Upon further investigation, Michael D. Minnick, 24, of Milford was charged with Domestic Assault. He was released on a $2,500 unsecured bond and a court date of July 31, 2008 was set.

On July 25, 2008, Deputy C.M. Polliard stopped James S. Green, 44, of Maryland for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, Green was charged with Driving a CMV While Under the Influence of Alcohol. He was released on a $1,500 unsecured bond and a court date of August 1, 2008 was set.

On July 25, 2008, Sergeant R.L. Hixson stopped Marshall D. Waggy, 30, of Mechanicsville for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, Waggy was charged with Possession of Marijuana and Improper Stopping on the Highway. Waggy was released on a summons and a court date of September 3, 2008 was set.

On July 25, 2008, Deputy P.E. Ford responded to a Milford business for a report of an intoxicated person. Upon further investigation, William E. Bartges, 35, of Woodbridge was charged with being Drunk in Public. He was released on his own recognizance and a court date of August 19, 2008 was set.

On July 26, 2008, Deputy J.K. Miller stopped Bow M. Little, 40, of Newport News for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, Little was charged with Possession of Marijuana. Little was released on a summons and a court date of August 15, 2008 was set.

On July 26, 2008, Deputy J.K. Miller stopped Katita L. Criego-Leonard, 36, of Culpeper for a traffic violation. After nearly striking the Deputy with her vehicle, Criego-Leonard was charged with Assault on a Police Officer. She was ordered held on a $1,500 secured bond and a court date of August 6, 2008 was set.

On July 26, 2008, Deputy P.E. Ford stopped Gregory W. Deloach, 23, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, Deloach was charged with Reckless Driving by Speed. He was released on a $2,500 unsecured bond and a court date of August 6, 2008 was set.

Caroline County Sheriff’s Office’ Wrap Up

According to Sheriff Tony Lippa, Caroline Deputies made 6 drug arrests, 5 DUI arrests, 15 domestic violence arrests, and 66 other criminal arrests during the past week. The deputies served 226 civil papers, issued 229 traffic summonses, handled 9 motor vehicle crashes, responded to 40 alarm calls, and dealt with 12 juvenile offenders. The Sheriff’s Office Communications Center dispatched 579 calls for service and handled 2,001 telephone inquiries. The CCSO also logged 32 calls assisting outside agencies and had 278 self-initiated calls.

Caroline County’s Telecom Consultant: “Conflict of interest? What’s that? …Seriously?”

At the July 22, 2008 meeting of the Caroline County Board of Supervisors, there was a public hearing about a proposed special exemption permit (SPEX-01-2007) for a communications tower in the Reedy Church District.

The proposed location is approximately 1.7 miles away from the soon-to-be new home of the State Fair of Virginia. The company pursuing the new tower is National Communication Towers, LLC (NTC).

AT&T, nTelos (a provider of PCS coverage in Virginia), as well as wireless broadband provider CVA Link, have all sent letters of intent expressing their interest in this communications tower to NCT.

AT&T even sent an engineer to the meeting to express their support for the tower and to provide information on how much more coverage the tower would provide to the surrounding area, including areas that currently have little to no coverage.

Caroline County employs Atlantic Technology Consultants, Inc. (ACT) as consultants on telecommunication issues. The president and chief operating officer (COO) of ATC is George Condyles.

Condyles stated that based on his analysis, this tower in Caroline County is not needed due to the fact that Hanover County is building a tower in Hanover for their emergency communications system.

However, both AT&T and nTelos both refute this assertion and even provided maps showing that the Hanover County tower would provided little areas of new coverage, and might even interfere with existing tower locations in the area.

So it seems that Condyles thinks he knows more about AT&T’s and nTelos’s equipment than the respective companies do: He says that the companies would get just as good coverage from the Hanover County tower as from NCT’s, assertions that both companies refute. Let’s see, who would know more about the way a wireless company’s equipment works? A “consultant” with no experience at the companies, or the people employed by AT&T and nTelos that set up new antennas tens, if not hundreds, of times a year?

Every other sentence out of Condyles’s mouth was about how great the Hanover County tower would be.

At one point, when talking about Hanover’s tower, Condyles stated, “I’m not a business agent of Hanover County, I just live there.”

Well, you do more than just live there Mr. Condyles, you happen to be on Hanover County’s Architectural Review Board and you just happen to list Hanover County as a client on your company’s web page.

Who is the sole beneficiary of Hanover County having the only tower in that area?

Why, that would be Hanover County, of course.

If Hanover County had the only tower, they would have a de facto monopoly in the area.

Caroline County and its citizens wouldn’t benefit, either.

If the NCT tower in Caroline County was built, Caroline County would have free access to place antennas on the tower for its police, fire, public works, and public utilities radio frequencies, per the terms of the special exemption permit. If Hanover County had the only antenna, Caroline County would have to pay Hanover County for the use of their antenna.

The citizens of Caroline County wouldn’t benefit either. AT&T and nTelos won’t use the Hanover County tower because it wouldn’t provide any service to areas that lack service currently. However, the NCT tower in Caroline County would. The NCT tower would get AT&T cell phone coverage to the Route 301/Route 30 intersection as well as several miles of Route 301 north of the intersection as well.

Further, since the NCT tower already has a letter of intent from a wireless broadband provider, CVA Link, the NCT tower would provide broadband service to currently unserved areas of Caroline County, something that the Hanover County tower wouldn’t.

And if Virginia Broadband wants to provide coverage to that area of Caroline County, which would they prefer: a tower in Hanover County or one in Caroline County? Well, I would guess a tower inside Caroline County since that would provide more coverage for Caroline County (duh).

Starbucks closes stores, yuppies hardest hit.

A “yuppie”, by my definition, is anyone stupid enough to pay $3 for a cup of coffee. RT-D:

Five Starbucks outlets in Virginia are among the 600 company-owned stores that the coffee retailing giant plans to close.

No Richmond-area stores are on the closure list released yesterday by the Seattle-based company.

The underperforming Virginia stores that Starbucks said it is closing are at Spotsylvania Towne Centre in Fredericksburg, Madison Crescent in Gainesville, the Power Plant in Hampton, Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News and Stonewall Plaza in Winchester.

Starbucks said it will begin closing targeted stores this month.

There are three things I’m proud of in my life: a) I have never had a cup of Starbucks coffee, b) I have never set foot inside a Starbucks, and c) I have never seen an episode of Grey’s Anatomy.

I have a question: Who knew the Spotsylvania Mall (or Towne Centre) was still around?

Christ, I haven’t been in there in years.

And remember that coffee is #1 on Stuff White People Like.

Add Pamela Gould (and/or her editor) to the list of people that should be fired at The Free Lance–Dog Trainer.

She joins the distinguished list that includes reporters Ellen Blitz, Jeff Branscome, Frank Delano, Keith Epps, Robin Knepper, and editors Dick Hammerstrom, Laura Hutchison, Phil Jenkins.

From an article written by Pamela Gould about the abduction, robbery, and presumptive murder of Yong Hui Zhang*:

An online check of court records by The Free Lance-Star turned up no criminal charges for either suspect [Jermaine Montgomery or Marcey White] in the Fredericksburg region or in the Tidewater area, Southampton or Sussex.

Well you guys did an excellent job of checking the independent city of Franklin**, the very jurisdiction they were arrested in!

A Jermaine Montgomery with the birthday of September 16th has been charged with the following in Franklin:

A felony charge of credit card fraud which was reduced to a misdemeanor charge of “petty [sic] larceny” which resulted in a deposition of guilty on December 3, 2007 (case number: GC07002067-00).

A felony charge for illegally obtaining a credit card number was dismissed on December 3, 2007 as well (probably a plea bargain involved there) (case number: GC07002069-00).

A pending case for a show cause for failure to pay restitution (case number: GC07002067-01).

On November 30, 2007 he was found guilty of a seat belt violation for a eight to fifteen year old as well as having no driver’s license (case numbers: GT07001731-00 & GT07001732-00). He was found not guilty of operating an uninspected vehicle (case number: GT07001732-00).

And of course, that isn’t the only error in the story unfortunately (or fortunately for me since it gives me something to write about):

Under state law, a slaying in the commission of another felony, including abduction or robbery, qualifies for a charge of capital murder and a possible death sentence.

You would think that a newspaper would do a little due diligence and bother doing some research before they start throwing the words “capital murder” around.

First, not every “slaying in the commission of another felony” is capital murder. You may be thinking of felony murder Ms. Gould. Felony murder (§ 18.2-33) is punished as second-degree murder in Virginia (“punishable by confinement in a state correctional facility for not less than five nor more than forty years” [§ 18.2-32]).

While, yes, a “willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing of any person in the commission of robbery or attempted robbery” is considered capital murder (§ 18.2-31(4)), a capital murder charge for abduction requires the “willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing of any person in the commission of abduction […] when such abduction was committed with the intent to extort money or a pecuniary [monetary] benefit or with the intent to defile the victim of such abduction” (§ 18.2-31(1)) [emphasis mine].

Just so you know Free Lance–Dog Trainer, you could hire me as an ombudsman or editor to keep you guys straight.

*Get your own link. I refuse to link to that sorry excuse of a newspaper.

**Not to be confused with the county of Franklin, which is located in southwestern Virginia.

Stafford BOS manages to please absolutely no one.

Which is always a politician’s goal, right? :)

The Stafford BOS voted to impose a Business and Professional Occupancy License (BPOL) tax starting in January 2010.

Well, from the right side of the aisle, here’s what D. J. McGuire had to say about it at The right-wing liberal:

Indeed it is, and there is hardly a tax more damaging than BPOL, which is a tax on revenue, not profit. Moreover, this business crippling tax was first implemented for emergency purposes only – to let Virginia counties recover from the damage done by the War of 1812.

Yes, you read that right – the War of 1812.

So now, both anchor counties in the Fredericksburg area will be reeling from tax increases: property taxes in Spotsylvania and BPOL is Stafford. The local economy is in deep trouble.

Also from the right side, there’s Eric Martin at Rappahannock Red:

Stafford County Democrats George Schwartz, Joe Brito, Bob Woodson and Harry Crisp have approved a highly controversial businesses tax, called the Business, Professional and Occupational License or “BPOL” in a meeting that stretched until later than 3:00 am!

These liberals call it a “revenue generator” for the cash-strapped jurisdiction, but let’s be clear: RAISING TAXES IS NOT A REVENUE GENERATOR- it’s a TAX INCREASE!

And from the left side of the aisle, there’s Dan Smolen at Fred2Blue:

The proponents will tell you that BPOL was intended, among other things, to stabilize the wild year-to-year fluctuations in Stafford County’s revenue stream and make sure that there would always be enough money in the annual budget for schools, public safety, and other requirements. We were told that its passage would end the yearly bickering over school funding.

Yet, we now hear the resulting package – negotiated on, then voted in 4-3 by the seven bleary-eyed board members – earmarks all of the revenue from BPOL for transportation improvement. From the FL-S:

The entire board, however, agreed that revenue generated by BPOL will be used to upgrade county roads and help pay the debt service on a potential transportation bond.

So much for stabilizing school-funding.

The next local election in Stafford in November 2009 should be interesting as both D. J. and Dan point out as well.

UPDATE: Dan Smolen posted the following comment, which I’m adding so neither I or anyone else take his original post out of context:

Tim, per the headline of this post, I think the characterization that no one is pleased is inaccurate.

While I and other “Pro-Business Dems” remain opposed to this version of BPOL (because it is regressive, a bureaucracy that in the end won’t raise that much in revenue, possibility punitive to small but growing businesses, and because the timing of the passage of BPOL in a recession is truly ill-advised), there actually are many supporters of BPOL in Stafford (Democratic, Independent, and Republican).

Really, this is not a left/right issue, although the Stafford BOS members in Republican the minority would have anyone believe that. As sure as the sun comes up tomorrow, they will continue to make political hay of it. Truth be told, the rhetoric on both sides (pro-BPOL vs. anti-BPOL) remains way overmodulated.

We do need new revenue in the county, for sure, and lots of it. Our schools and our critical services are severely underfunded.

We pro-biz Dems are not making our pro-BPO friends happy with our public skepticism. But being small-business owners first, politicians second, we must do all that we can to support the business community and encourage new businesses to arrive in Stafford, and stay.

That’s what will generate the revenue we need.

He brings up an excellent point about the bureaucracy involved. How many additional positions are going to be required at the Commissioner of Revenue’s Office and/or Treasurer’s Office to properly assess and administer these new business’s taxes?

Yong Hui Zhang found dead in Sussex.

Richmond Times-Dispatch:

The body of a Fredericksburg deliveryman who was abducted Thursday night was found last night in a remote area of Sussex County, Fredericksburg police said.

Yong Hui Zhang, 24, disappeared sometime after 9:30 p.m. Thursday while making deliveries for his family’s restaurant, China Express at 1500 Jefferson Davis Highway in Fredericksburg.

Zhang was found shortly after police arrested suspects Jermaine Montgomery, 34 and Marcey White, 36, in southeastern Virginia. His car was found not far from his remains, authorities said.

Montgomery and White were arrested shortly after 5:00 p.m. at a Wal-Mart in Franklin, police said. Zhang’s family contacted police at 10:15 p.m. Thursday when he did not return from his last round of deliveries.

One of Zhang’s deliveries was to a vacant apartment at 202 Charles St., police said. Police believe Zhang was ambushed and assaulted there.

Montgomery and White have been charged with abduction, conspiracy to commit abduction, carjacking, conspiracy to commit carjacking, credit-card theft, and conspiracy to commit credit-card theft, Fredericksburg police said.

A third suspect was in the Wal-Mart with Montgomery and White at the time of the arrest. Police said there are no charges against that person.

Zhang’s cause of death has not been determined yet, police said.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic turn of events,” Fredericksburg chief David Nye said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the Zhang family for their terrible loss.”

Suspects arrested in the abduction of Fredericksburg delivery driver.

Richmond Times-Dispatch:

Two suspects wanted in the abduction and robbery of a Fredericksburg delivery man were arrested in the city of Franklin shortly after 5:30 p.m. today, Fredericksburg police said.

Jermaine Montgomery, 34, and his girlfriend, Marcey White, 36, were arrested at a Wal-Mart in Franklin, said Natatia L. Bledsoe, spokeswoman for the Fredericksburg Police Department.

Yong Hui Zhang and his vehicle are still missing. His bronze 2004 Nissan Sentra had Virginia license plates JPB6401, police said.

“Locating the victim and his vehicle are our primary concern at this moment,” Bledsoe said.

Zhang’s family reported him missing Thursday night after the 24-year-old left the family’s restaurant to make deliveries.

Police said Montgomery used Zhang’s credit card at the Four Mile Fork Shell station in Spotsylvania County shortly after the delivery driver was reported missing.

“We remain hopeful of a positive outcome to these horrific circumstances for Mr. Zhang and his family,” Fredericksburg Chief of Police David Nye said in a statement today.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Fredericksburg Police Department at (540) 373-3122.

Manhunt continues for man charged in the abduction of Fredericksburg delivery driver.

NBC 4:

Police in Fredericksburg have identified a man they allege is behind the abduction and robbery of a missing Chinese food deliveryman.

Investigators on Saturday obtained warrants charging Jermaine Montgomery, 34, with abduction, conspiracy to commit abduction, carjacking, conspiracy to commit carjacking, credit card theft and conspiracy to commit credit card theft, according to a press release.

Yong Hui Zhang left his parents’ China Express restaurant on Jefferson Davis Highway at about 9:20 p.m. Thursday to make three deliveries. When he didn’t return by closing time, his relatives contacted police.

Officers checked one of the delivery sites and found evidence of a violent crime. Officials said they found a large amount of blood and a shoe that could belong to Zhang.

Zhang and his vehicle, a bronze 2004 Nissan Sentra with Virginia license plates JPB6401, are still missing.

Police identified Montgomery after releasing surveillance video of a man using the victim’s credit card at the Four Mile Fork Shell station in Spotsylvania County at 10:45 p.m. on the night of the abduction.

Police Chief David Nye on Saturday asked the public’s help in locating the missing man and his car. He said Montgomery and his girlfriend, Marcey White, are possibly in southeastern Virginia and may still be driving Zhang’s car. White faces the same charges as Montgomery and police said both are to be “considered to be extremely dangerous.”

Officers are continuing to search for Zhang and hope that he is found alive.

“We remain hopeful of a positive outcome to these horrific circumstances for Mr. Zhang and his family,” Nye said.

Anyone with information should contact Fredericksburg police at 540-373-3122.