Crime News for Charlottesville Daily Progress

UVa football player in court; murder suspect hearing delayed

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:22:01 EDT

Michael Brown, a University of Virginia football player police believe stole music equipment from a car earlier this year and sold it on eBay, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday in Charlottesville General District Court.

Details emerge in city killing probe

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:57:00 EDT

Shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday, a small army of police officers converged on the Super 8 Motel on Greenbrier Drive in Albemarle County.

Victim’s family: End violence; suspect’s mom disputes charges

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:45:00 EDT

The family of the city’s third homicide victim of 2008 is appealing to Charlottesville’s young residents to put an end to the “senseless” violence.

Officials: Package ‘resembled’ a bomb

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:56:00 EDT

A suspicious package found at a house in Albemarle County “resembled an improvised explosive device,” officials are now saying.

Former school employee to serve three months

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:36:00 EDT

Louin Richard Deane, 45, of Louisa, entered a guilty plea this morning in lieu of a trial in Nelson County Circuit Court.

The Sixth Street killing: Police probe possible gang links

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:45:00 EDT

Police have arrested four Charlottesville residents in connection with the Saturday slaying of a 19-year-old city man — including one suspect previously charged with a Buckingham County homicide.

Suspicious package spurs major response

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:42:00 EDT

A suspicious package found in an Albemarle County house prompted a response from six police, fire and rescue agencies Sunday.

Four arrested for slaying

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:57:00 EDT

Police have arrested three men and a woman in connection with a Saturday morning slaying.

Police search for answers in 2 shootings

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:55:00 EDT

Two shootings in Charlottesville over the weekend left one young man dead and another wounded.

19-year-old fatally shot downtown

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:40:00 EDT

“When they responded to the area, one of the officers discovered the body of a male subject who died of an apparent gunshot wound,” Police Chief Timothy J. Longo said. “The detectives have been working non-stop, along with crime scene investigators, gathering facts relevant to the event.”

UPDATE: Police offer first details in fatal shooting

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:12:00 EDT

Charlottesville police have provided more details on the early-morning shooting that left a 19-year-old city man dead.

Fluvanna woman gets bench trial in theft ring case

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:50:00 EDT

The wife of a man who police said might have been involved in a Central Virginia property theft ring will face a bench trial Oct. 31.

Man assaulted, robbed in county

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:44:00 EDT

A man was assaulted and robbed in the 2000 block of Commonwealth Drive on Wednesday night.

Fugitive I.D. thief arrested in Illinois

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:42:01 EDT

An identity thief wanted by the Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office has been nabbed.

State police search for sex offenders

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:37:00 EDT

Virginia State Police are searching for two wanted sex offenders who were last known to be in the Charlottesville area.

Mob attack leads to warrants for four

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:08:00 EDT

Charlottesville police have issued multiple warrants in connection with a group incident during the early hours of Sunday morning.

Man arrested in non-fatal shooting

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:07:00 EDT

Albemarle County police arrested a man in connection with an early Sunday morning shooting that sent one man to the hospital.

Jailed man invokes self defense

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:40:00 EDT

Robert Alan Morrison has already put himself in front of a jury.

Ex-Orange official indicted on 100-plus child porn charges

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:24:00 EDT

Doyle W. Frye was town manager for five years

Bond denied for suspect in knife attack

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:52:00 EDT

A former Battlefield Ford employee who was charged in a knife attack at the dealership has been denied bond.

Car dealership stabbing suspect denied bond

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:21:00 EDT

James Thomas Jackson, 66, appeared in Albemarle County General District Court, along with a group of church members, nieces, nephews and his sister and wife. Jackson was charged with malicious wounding last month in connection with a stabbing at the dealership.

Authorities looking for wanted felon

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:55:00 EDT

Fluvanna authorities are looking for a 42-year-old woman guilty of identity theft who recently failed to show for sentencing, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

64 sniper wracked by guilt after rampage

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:51:00 EDT

The full import of what happened that March night started to hit Brandon Dawson when he went home to Crozet and saw the shootings on the news.

Fluvanna authorities looking for wanted felon

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:41:01 EDT

Sheila Rene Napier was found guilty of five felony counts of identity theft and was supposed to be sentenced on June 27.

I-64 shooter gets new sentence

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:16:00 EDT

A 16-year-old Crozet boy who pleaded guilty to taking part in the Interstate 64 shootings will spend 180 days in an intensive program at a local juvenile center.

Carrier sentenced for stealing mail

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:20:00 EDT

A former Charlottesville mail carrier was sentenced Tuesday for stealing mail.

Credit union worker pleads guilty to fraud

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:19:01 EDT

A former employee of Sperry Marine Federal Credit Union pleaded guilty Tuesday in connection with a conspiracy to embezzle funds from the Charlottesville-based credit union.

2 armed men try to rob apartment

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:16:00 EDT

Two armed men forced their way into an Albemarle County apartment just after 7 a.m. Tuesday and attempted to rob the occupants.

Richmond man charged in sex sting

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:47:00 EDT

Louisa County authorities have arrested a Richmond man in connection with an attempted solicitation of a 13-year-old girl over the Internet.

County police probe robbery

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:39:00 EDT

Police are still searching for suspect in Monday night robbery at local dry cleaners

Charlottesville man shot in the torso outside home

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:02:00 EDT

A 21-year-old Charlottesville man was shot in the parking lot of the Oxford Hill apartment complex on Monday.

Charlottesville man shot at Oxford Hill apartment complex

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:49:00 EDT

A 21-year-old Charlottesville man was shot in the parking lot of the Oxford Hill apartment complex on Monday.

Gun-wielding man’s sanity questioned

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:07:00 EDT

A Ruckersville man who authorities said shot at homes and raised a gun toward law enforcement officers will undergo competency and sanity evaluations.

Earlysville teenager denied bond at hearing

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:55:00 EDT

About 15 family members and friends filled an Albemarle courtroom Monday to support 19-year-old Andrew Reid Bechtle during a hearing at which he was denied bond.

Robbery suspect acts as own lawyer

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:07:00 EDT

“My life is on the line here, I understand that,” Morrison said. “Pretty much, this is it. I think I can probably defend myself better than any other person.”

Charlottesville man faces carnal knowledge charge

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:41:00 EDT

A 27-year-old Charlottesville man is in jail after police charged him with having carnal knowledge of a 14-year-old girl.

Father, son sentenced for 2006 store robbery

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:39:00 EDT

A 2006 armed robbery of a Dollar Store in Fork Union has proved costly for a father and son.

UVa students assaulted in apartment robbery

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:15:00 EDT

Charlottesville police are investigating a robbery in which two University of Virginia students were assaulted

Earlysville teen faces rape, abduction charges

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:13:00 EDT

A 19-year-old Earlysville man was arrested last week and charged with abduction, rape and forcible sodomy, according to Albemarle police.

Battlefield Ford salesman knifed while on the job

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:10:00 EDT

A longtime salesman at Battlefield Ford on U.S. 250 in the Pantops area suffered numerous cuts in a knife attack Wednesday morning, allegedly at the hands of a former co-worker.

Man pleads guilty to cocaine charges

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:58:00 EDT

A 27-year-old Charlottesville man faces 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess and distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.

3 Fluvanna residents indicted in connection with theft ring

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:58:00 EDT

A Fluvanna County grand jury handed down indictments Monday charging two Fluvanna men and one of their wives in connection with a property theft ring.

Investigators in 5 localities seek to link crimes

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:56:01 EDT

Authorities in five localities have been sharing information to see if a Crimora man is connected to armed robberies in their communities.

Police searching for girl, suspect in kidnapping

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:43:00 EDT

Police are searching for a 29-year-old Charlottesville man who they say kidnapped a 13-year-old girl.

Crime down in both city, Albemarle

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:32:00 EDT

With a few exceptions, crime in Charlottesville and Albemarle County dropped in 2007, according to a Virginia State Police report released Friday.

Sniper raid shooting won’t yield charges

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:16:00 EDT

During the early-morning raid at the Yonder Hill Farm Road home March 28, it was dark. Dogs were barking, and so were the tactical police officers.

Stabbing victim released from hospital

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:11:00 EDT

A 22-year-old man stabbed Wednesday night has been released from the hospital, according to Albemarle County police.

Man held in connection with stabbing incident

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:05:00 EDT

Albemarle police are investigating the circumstances that led to a stabbing Wednesday night at a Minor Mill Road home.

Suspect in ‘88 killing released

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:03:00 EDT

Alvin Lee “Butch” Morris appeared Wednesday in court, where he was granted a $50,000 property-secured bond, said defense attorney Dana Slater. Morris previously was denied bond last month, but Slater said there wasn’t time to prepare for a proper bond hearing so soon after his arrest.

Teenager gets 5 years for gang beating, shooting

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:25:00 EDT

When Indio Martinez was born 19 years ago, his mother, Karen Nash, was told that he had developmental delays. Martinez required special education and had a 90-day psychiatric admission as a child.

State police conclude shooting inquiry

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:09:00 EDT

The Virginia State Police says it has wrapped up its investigation into the March 31 shooting of a Crozet-area man by an Albemarle County police officer

Drug, gun charges against burglar suspects sent to grand jury

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:07:01 EDT

Two Fluvanna County men whose home was raided by police in April will have their case heard by a grand jury next week.

Authorities searching for felony drug suspect

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:01:00 EDT

The Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office is trying to find a man wanted on numerous felony drug charges.

Jury indicts Va. Beach man in drug scheme

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:24:00 EDT

A federal grand jury in Charlottesville this week indicted a Virginia Beach man in connection with drug activity.

Man’s competency decided in burglary case

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:54:00 EDT

A Charlottesville man previously deemed incompetent to stand trial soon will have a trial date scheduled.

Driver identified in fatal chase

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:59:00 EDT

Albemarle police have identified the man who died in a fiery May 26 car crash during a high-speed chase with a Louisa County deputy.

JADE arrests 2 suspects on cocaine charges

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:57:00 EDT

The Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement task force arrested two men in Charlottes-ville on Wednesday in a “buy and bust” operation.

JADE arrests 2 men on cocaine charges

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:52:00 EDT

The Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement task force arrested two men in Charlottesville on Wednesday in a “buy and bust” operation.

Judge hears appeal of I-64 teen suspect

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:58:00 EDT

A 16-year old Crozet boy who has admitted his involvement in the Interstate 64 shootings pleaded guilty to charges for a second time Wednesday after filing an appeal last week.

Ruckersville resident indicted in abduction

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:53:00 EDT

A Greene County grand jury has indicted a Ruckersville man in the abduction of his ex-girlfriend, Commonwealth’s Attorney Ron Morris said.

Teen facing rape charge

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:05:00 EDT

An Albemarle County teen has been charged in connection with the rape of a 14-year-old girl.

Woman pleads guilty to growing marijuana

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 23:46:00 EDT

An Albemarle County woman pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to growing marijuana at a Scottsville home.

Professor’s ID stolen; $22,000 gone

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:08:00 EDT

When University of Virginia professor Patrick Grant opened his mailbox on May 23 to find three letters from Bank of America informing him that they would not raise his credit limit, he knew his identity had been stolen.

Hot dog begins rehab

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:22:00 EDT

Not long after two men accused of stealing a beloved hot dog mascot appeared in court, Harry the Hot Dog was wheeled into Old Dominion Prosthetics & Orthotics to start his rehabilitation.

Teen convicted in I-64 shooting seeks appeal

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:30:00 EDT

A 16-year-old Crozet boy convicted in the Interstate 64 shootings is seeking an appeal.

Residents facing cocaine charges

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:27:00 EDT

Three local residents are facing cocaine charges after the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement task force raided a home in the 1500 block of Carlton Drive.

Still no charges in fatal pit bull attack on dog

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:21:00 EDT

No charges have yet been filed in connection with a May 22 dog attack, in which a pit bull mauled a senior citizen’s Pomeranian named Shelby in the Woodlake neighborhood of Albemarle County.

Investigators using DNA to help ID driver

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:20:00 EDT

Albemarle County police have not yet identified the driver of a Geo Metro who died in a fiery crash after leading police on a high-speed chase May 26.

Ex-Greene deputy gets another year

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:17:00 EDT

STANARDSVILLE — At noon on June 13, former Greene County deputy Leftery N. “Terry” Tsouroutis will check himself in to the low-security federal prison at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Florida.

Ex-Greene deputy sentenced on gun charge

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:46:02 EDT

Leftery N. “Terry” Tsouroutis, 39, will serve a year for the firearm charge concurrent to his federal sentence. He was convicted in April in Greene Circuit Court of selling a firearm to a convicted felon around 2000.

Youth was ‘friends with everyone’

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:31:00 EDT

On Monday afternoon, 11-year-old Aziz Damar Booth biked down the hill from his home on Sixth 1/2 Street to Tonsler Park to play basketball with his buddy Tilik Jones. The next day, Tilik, 13, was back at the basketball court, but this time he was alone.

Boy shot, killed

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:26:00 EDT

A Charlottesville man turned himself in to police Tuesday after an early-morning shooting in Fifeville left an 11-year-old boy dead.

Man pleads guilty to stun-gun stick-ups

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:41:00 EDT

A Charlottesville man accused in stun-gun robberies at two city Exxons pleaded guilty to several charges Monday.

Woman’s sexual assault was videotaped, warrant says

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:39:00 EDT

A 23-year-old Charlottesville man has been arrested in connection with what police say is the videotaped sexual assault of his fiancée.

Trucker indicted in deadly 29 crash

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:39:00 EDT

A Waynesboro truck driver was indicted Monday in a May 9 crash that killed 16-year-old Albemarle High School student Sydney Aichs.

Indictments handed down against teen in sniper fire

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:36:00 EDT

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

Man breaks into Wertland home, fondles sleeping woman

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:08:00 EDT

A man broke into a home in the 1200 block of Wert-land Avenue early Sunday morning and fondled a sleeping 20-year-old woman.

Grand jury to hear case of man shot by deputy

Wed, 28 May 2008 23:34:01 EDT

A Ruckersville man who was shot by a Greene County deputy during an incident May 13 soon will have his case heard by a grand jury.

Noakes pleads guilty to sex charges

Wed, 28 May 2008 00:36:00 EDT

Christopher Allen Noakes to face 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a February attack on a University of Virginia student.

Man wanted in armed robbery at restaurant

Mon, 26 May 2008 23:58:00 EDT

An armed man wearing a dark cloth over his face robbed the Oriental Express restaurant in northern Albemarle County late Sunday.

High-speed chase ends in fatality

Mon, 26 May 2008 23:57:00 EDT

A high-speed chase that began in Louisa County on Monday ended in a fiery fatality in Albemarle.

Group aims to prepare area police for crises

Mon, 26 May 2008 00:25:01 EDT

As the state is preparing to strengthen its mental health guidelines, a local program is hoping to increase the number of law enforcement officers who can defuse crisis situations.

Linebacker, student sentenced to 4 days in jail

Thu, 22 May 2008 23:47:00 EDT

J’Courtney Rydell Williams, 19, said his family always told him to stay out of trouble. Williams said he managed to do so in high school, but college was a different story.

Judge certifies charges in Comfort Inn robbery

Thu, 22 May 2008 23:40:00 EDT

A Charlottesville grand jury will review charges against three people June 16 in connection with a March 25 armed robbery at the Comfort Inn on Emmet Street.

Ex-UVa football player to spend 4 days in jail

Thu, 22 May 2008 11:55:00 EDT

J’Courtney Rydell Williams, 19, and Lester Guy Spellman III, 18, will spend four days in jail and pay $42.40 in restitution to satisfy the sentence handed down in Albemarle General District Court.

Local law enforcement drills for possible UVa crisis

Wed, 21 May 2008 23:31:00 EDT

More than two dozen police officers stormed a University of Virginia building Wednesday as part of a massive emergency training exercise that mimicked last year’s massacre at Virginia Tech.

County drops hammer on speeders

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:40:00 EDT

The Albemarle County Police Department issued 142 tickets to 126 drivers during a six-hour crackdown on speeding Monday.

Police searching for robbery suspect

Tue, 20 May 2008 01:15:00 EDT

Charlottesville police are searching for a man who robbed a woman at gunpoint around 3 p.m. Sunday in the 700 block of Prospect Avenue.

Police search for gun-wielding robber

Mon, 19 May 2008 14:41:01 EDT

Charlottesville police are searching for a man who robbed a woman at gun-point around 3 p.m. Sunday in the 700 block of Prospect Avenue.

Killing suspect married widow

Sat, 17 May 2008 01:04:01 EDT

A man charged this week with killing a storeowner in 1988 is now married to the dead man’s widow and has helped raise his children, authorities disclosed Friday.

Suspect in child cocaine case hires attorney

Sat, 17 May 2008 00:02:01 EDT

The Louisa County man whose toddlers tested positive for cocaine last month informed a judge presiding over his case that he had hired an attorney.

Suspect married to victims widow

Fri, 16 May 2008 14:55:00 EDT

Alvin Lee Morris, a 67-year-old Gordonsville man charged in connection with a 20-year-old slaying, is married to the victim’s widow and helped raise at least two of the victim’s children, according to Albemarle County court officials.

Bond denied for Morris

Fri, 16 May 2008 11:26:00 EDT

Alvin Lee Morris was denied bond Friday morning in Albemarle General District Court. He was charged this week with first-degree murder, robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Arrest made in 1988 killing

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:08:00 EDT

Roger L. Shifflett, a 38-year-old father of five, was shot to death June 20, 1988. Almost two decades later, Albemarle County police have charged a man in his killing.

Sniper suspect waives preliminary hearing

Thu, 15 May 2008 23:48:01 EDT

An Afton teenager charged in connection with March’s Interstate 64 shootings will face a grand jury June 2.

Police make arrest in 2-decade-old killing

Thu, 15 May 2008 18:49:00 EDT

Roger L. Shifflett, a 38-year-old father of five, was killed June 20, 1988. Almost two decades later, Albemarle County police believe they have found the killer.

Woodson waives right to hearing

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:42:00 EDT

A 19-year-old Afton man charged in connection with the Interstate 64 shootings in March will have his case heard by a grand jury next month.

Greene man charged

Wed, 14 May 2008 23:46:01 EDT

A Ruckersville man who was shot by a Greene County sheriff’s deputy Tuesday afternoon has been charged with three felonies.

Stolen hotdog leads to 2nd man’s arrest

Wed, 14 May 2008 23:41:00 EDT

Albemarle County police have made a second arrest in the case of the missing gigantic hot dog mascot.

Fire Marshals: Arson caused home destruction

Tue, 13 May 2008 23:52:00 EDT

An early-morning fire that burned down an Earlysville mobile home Tuesday was caused by arson, authorities said