Defendant attacks accuser in Albemarle court

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: August 21, 2008

A Fluvanna man charged with credit-card theft in Albemarle County may face more charges after attacking his accuser in court this morning.

Mark Wayne Shifflett, 46, was sitting down for a preliminary hearing in Albemarle General District Court when he leapt up and started hitting the victim of the credit-card charges, confirmed Sgt. Tim Aylor of the Albemarle Police Department. Shifflett, who had his arms cuffed in front of him and his legs shackled, began hitting the victim while courtroom deputies and Aylor tried to get a handle on him.

“You’re a lying bitch,” Shifflett yelled in court as deputies held him back. “I’m going to kill you!”

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Andrew Sneathern led the victim out of the courtroom after the skirmish. He said the victim did not require medical attention after the incident.

Shifflett’s defense attorney, Stephanie Commander, requested a new court date for her client.

In addition to the credit-card case, authorities have accused Shifflett and Ronald Lee Morris of being involved in a property theft ring in eight Central Virginia counties. Late last month, he was sentenced to an 8-year active sentence in Bath County after pleading guilty to two counts of breaking and entering and two counts of grand larceny.

This article was edited to remove inaccurate information.