Indictments handed down against teen in sniper fire

By The News Virginian Staff

Published: June 2, 2008

An Albemarle grand jury handed down 15 indictments Monday charging a 19-year-old Afton man in the Interstate 64 shootings.

Slade A. Woodson faces two counts of malicious wounding, two counts of using a fire-arm in the commission of a felony, five counts of maliciously shooting at an occupied vehicle, three counts of shooting from a vehicle to endanger people, two counts of shooting at an occupied dwelling and one count of attempted malicious wounding.

The indictments are the same charges authorities previously levied against Woodson and 16-year-old Brandon Dawson in connection with the March 27 sniper fire. Police said several vehicles and a few homes were shot that morning. Two people in cars were slightly injured.

The shootings shut down part of I-64 while authorities investigated. Albemarle County public schools also shut down for the day.

If convicted of the charges, Woodson could face more than 100 years in prison. He also faces several indictments in Waynesboro in connection with shots fired there March 27.

Woodson is being held without bond at the Middle River Regional Jail in Verona. He is scheduled for a bench trial Sept. 16 in Albemarle Circuit Court.

Dawson was sentenced last week to an undefined amount of time at a state juvenile facility after pleading guilty to five counts of maliciously shooting at an occupied vehicle The state will determine how long Dawson remains in its custody, which could be until he turns 21 years old. 

Dawson is scheduled to return to juvenile court in one year to review three charges involving shots fired at homes and from a vehicle. Officials have said these charges, to which he pleaded guilty last month, would be deferred as long as the boy remains on good behavior.