Fairfax County Deputy from Ruther Glen charged with rape.

The Free Lance–Star: Deputy faces rape charge:

A Fairfax County sheriff’s deputy who lives in Ruther Glen, has been charged with rape in Ocean City, Md.

Zachary Dennis Taylor, 31, was expected to turn himself in to police in Maryland last night, said Ocean City Police Department public information officer Michael Levy.

Levy said after talking with the woman who accused him of rape and questioning Taylor at the Ocean City Police Department, a warrant was obtained Wednesday for Taylor, charging him with second-degree rape.

UPDATED: Another Alleged Drug Dealer Arrested

Gotta love that headline. From the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office: Another Alleged Drug Dealer Arrested:

Sheriff Tony Lippa wishes to express his gratitude to those who provided us information that allowed the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office to arrest another alleged drug dealer. “I truly appreciate the ongoing support of our community in assisting us in our continued efforts on the war against illegal drugs in Caroline County. Together we are making a difference.”

On 2-22-08 Caroline County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigators executed multiple drug related search warrants resulting in a seizure of $10,000.00 worth of crack cocaine. An investigation into Dupree Johnson, a 35 year old rap recording artist from Prince George County Maryland began six months ago. A search warrant was executed on a residence located at 6672-A Cedar Fork Road, Ruther Glen, VA., in Caroline County. As a result of this search warrant, the investigation branched out to neighboring Spotsylvania County. Two search warrants were executed in Spotsylvania County with the assistance of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics unit.

The Caroline County Sheriff’s Office had gained information during this investigation that Johnson traveled from Maryland to the Caroline County area for the purpose of distributing illegal drugs. Upon arresting Johnson, the Sheriff’s Office has stopped a flow of cocaine into Caroline County valued at approximately $10,000.00 per weekend.

Johnson has been charged with two counts of distribution of cocaine and one count of possession of cocaine and is being held without bond in Pamunkey Regional Jail. As this is an ongoing investigation, no further information is being released at this time.

UPDATE: According to online court records in Maryland, Dupree Theodore Johnson (DOB: 11/16/1972) has been charged previously for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute a narcotic, and he currently had a warrant out for him for failure to appear on a charge of driving on a suspended license.

Donna Blanton trial to begin Monday in Virginia Beach

The Free Lance–Star: Blanton’s retrial slated for Monday:

The retrial for the Caroline County woman charged with killing her state trooper husband will start Monday in Virginia Beach.

[…]

Tony Spencer, commonwealth’s attorney, said the trial should last about eight days, and 240 potential jurors have been summoned for the first day of jury selection.

The trial is set to begin at 9:30 a.m., according to online court records.

[…]

She won an appeal last year, however, based on the grounds that Harvey Latney, who was the commonwealth’s attorney at the time, showed bias in picking his jury.

Well, to be more specific there was the complaint that the court: “permit[ed] the Commonwealth to use all of its peremptory strikes against five white females without supplying a gender-neutral reason”.

Blanton’s attorney also argued that the court: “refus[ed] to strike Juror 12 due to his relationship with the Commonwealth’s Attorney”. That issue wasn’t addressed since it began a moot point after the whole jury was thrown out.

Donna L. Blanton v. Commonwealth of Virginia, Record No. 1955-05-2

[…]

In November, Judge Horace A. Revercomb tried to seat a jury for the retrial in Caroline, but after two days of jury selection, was unable to find enough people who didn’t know about the case.

Campbell said knowledge of the case’s history will be the concern again in Virginia Beach.

“The bar is set higher for a retrial,” he said. “If they even know she was ever tried and convicted, they can’t sit on the jury.”

Yes, the truth is bad for defense attorneys (and the people they represent).

UPDATE: Great, we made the AP: Retrial set for woman charged with killing trooper husband

More bad bond ratings for Caroline County?

Fitch Ratings has Caroline County’s IDA (Industrial Development Authority) bond series from 2002 rated at AA with a negative watch (meaning that the bonds’ rating could be potentially downgraded).

These are the same bonds that Moody’s Investor Services has listed as possibly being downgraded soon as well.

All this while Caroline County is considering issuing more bonds to pay for services such as a new school, a fire station, and a public safety building.

What’s the expression about being up a creek with no paddle?

Let’s make some glue…

AP via Richmond Times-Dispatch: Horses wander onto Va. interstate, block traffic:

Transportation officials say three horses wandering along Interstate 64 stopped eastbound traffic at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel for about 30 minutes this morning.

A Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman said state troopers rounded up the horses, which were taken to a garage at the tunnel until animal control officers could arrive.

A VDOT spokeswoman said authorities got the call about the loose horses about 5:45 a.m., after drivers and VDOT employees in the tunnel control room spotted them.

The horses are believed to belong to Hampton University.

Complete and utter fiscal irresponsibility from the Virginia General Assembly, first the House of Delegates, take 2:

I promised a summary of the Senate budget but I missed a couple things in my last post. All numbers are for the whole 2008-10 biennial.

Additional expense in green, cuts in red, and editorials in black.

House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government:

  • Cutting $894,868 for the Virginia Crime Commission while spending $17,280 on the “Virginia Bicentennial of the American War of 1812 Commission”. Dear Lord…
  • Cutting $2,000,000 for court-appointed attorneys for juveniles.
  • Cutting $6,000,000 for court-appointed attorneys for adults.
  • Cutting $5,902,000 for drug courts. For information on drug courts click here.
  • Spending $166,760 to convert Buckingham County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney position to full-time. Meanwhile, Caroline County, that has a population that is 66.04% more than Buckingham County, doesn’t get funding.
  • Cutting $1,066,000 that would have gone to localities from the wine tax and profit from Alcoholic Beverage Control.

March 8th: Spaghetti Dinner Benefit at Bowling Green Volunteer Fire Department (BGVFD) for Yvonne Reedal

Link:

Spaghetti Dinner Benefiting Yvonne Reedal
Where: Bowling Green Vol. Fire Department
When: Saturday March 8, 2008
Cost: $10.00 a person

Dinner Includes:
Fresh Italian Salad
Dinner Bread
Homemade Spaghetti
Dessert
Iced Tea-Lemonade-Coffee

This is to benefit Yvonne Reedal who has been a volunteer for Caroline County for 23 years. ALL proceeds from this will be given to support the Yvonne Reedal Support Fund through Union Bank and Trust Company.

Weekly News Media Briefs – Week Ending February 23, 2008

From the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office: Weekly News Media Briefs – Week Ending February 23, 2008:

On February 17, 2008, Deputy C. M. Polliard responded to a trespass complaint in Dawn. After investigating, Leocadio R. Velazquez, 21, of Fredericksburg and Jose A. Norega, 31, of Fredericksburg were both charged with possession of burglary tools, trespassing and grand larceny. Both were ordered held without bond and an arraignment date of February 20, 2008 was set for both.

On February 17, 2008, Deputy W. D. Lipscomb stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction. After investigating, Ashley B. Gray, 28, of Bowling Green was charged with driving under the influence. He was ordered held under a $1500 bond and a court date of March 21, 2008 was set.

On February 18, 2008, Deputy C. M. Polliard responded to a dispute in Rappahannock Academy. After investigating, Aaron S. Groover, 28, of no fixed address was charged with trespassing. He was ordered held without bond and an arraignment date of February 20, 2008 was set.

On February 18, 2008, Deputy M. J. O’Connor responded to a disturbance in Rappahannock Academy. After investigating, Jennifer L. Groover, 23, of Rixeytown, VA was charged with malicious wounding. She was ordered held without bond and an arraignment date of February 20, 2008 was set.

On February 19, 2008, Deputy G. J. Hamilton stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction. After investigating, Dike L. Walker, 30, of Woodford was charged with driving on a suspended driver’s license – 3rd offense. He was ordered held without bond and an arraignment date of February 20, 2008 was set.

On February 20, 2008, Deputy W. D. Lipscomb stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. After investigating, James Brooks, Jr., 42, of Milford was charged with driving on a revoked drivers license – 3rd offense. He was released on a personal recognizance bond and court information was unavailable.

On February 22, 2008, Deputy T. P. Connolly encountered a person in the general district courtroom. Arrested for drunk in public was Kerry L. Emerson, 38, of Frog Level. He was ordered held without bond and a court date of March 21, 2008 was set.

On February 22, 2008, Deputy C. S. Wooldridge stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. After investigating, and with the assistance of Deputy S. Mullane and his canine, Madelyn A. Blue, 42, of Hanover was charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance. She was released on a personal recognizance bond and an arraignment date of February 29, 2008 was set.

On February 23, 2008, Deputy C. S. Wooldridge responded to a domestic in Woodford. After investigating, Timothy J. Spurley, 21, of Woodford was charged with domestic assault. He was released on his own recognizance and a court date of Feburary 26, 2008 was set. The following morning, Deputy D. W. Mundie responded to the same residence and charged Spurley with violating a protective order. Bond and court information on this charge were unavailable.

Caroline County Sheriff’s Office Wrap Up

According to Sheriff Tony Lippa, Caroline Deputies made 7 drug arrests, 7 domestic violence arrests, and 38 other criminal arrests during the past week. The deputies served 154 civil papers, issued 188 traffic summonses, handled 9 motor vehicle crashes, responded to 25 alarm calls, and dealt with 5 juvenile offenders. The Sheriff’s Office Communications Center dispatched 427 calls for service and handled 1,764 telephone inquiries. The CCSO also logged 33 calls assisting outside agencies and had 225 self initiated calls.