I’m Surrounded By Idiots

"’That’s to the point of absurdity that anybody would think that’ a campaign contribution would affect the way a case is handled."

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Wife may request outside jury for her retrial:

An attorney for Donna L. Blanton appears to be laying the groundwork to ask that a jury from outside Caroline County hear her retrial for the slaying of her husband.

Defense attorney Mark Murphy requested subpoenas be issued to about 25 television stations and newspapers, including The Times-Dispatch. The subpoenas seek copies of articles and broadcasts about the case, a common precursor to trying to persuade a judge that extensive publicity would make it difficult to seat a jury from within the locality where a crime occurred.

Murphy declined to say yesterday whether he plans to file a motion seeking either to move Blanton’s upcoming trial from Caroline or to bring in jurors from outside the county.

Donna Blanton, 42, is scheduled to be tried again starting Nov. 29 in Caroline Circuit Court for the October 2003 slaying of Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. Taylor V. Blanton.

Blanton was convicted of first-degree murder in 2005 and was sentenced to 28 years in prison. But the Virginia Court of Appeals ruled in April that gender wrongly played a role in how Caroline Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Latney Jr. selected potential jurors.

Blanton, who did not testify during her trial, maintained that an unidentified man broke into the couple’s home, shot her husband in bed and fled.

She is being held at the Pamunkey Regional Jail in Hanover County.

Interesting that Mark Murphy has already contributed $1,500 to Harvey Latney’s campaign fund.

I’m absolutely certain he wasn’t thinking he would get special treatment…

Oh, I’m going to blush

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Attorney raising funds for prosecutor:

A well-known Richmond defense attorney is soliciting donations to help Caroline County Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Latney Jr. repay $300,000 that the prosecutor’s longtime secretary is accused of stealing from a client.

Craig S. Cooley, who has opposed Latney in the courtroom in the past, said yesterday that he sent out the letter because Latney “is perhaps the most respected attorney and human being that I know.”

“It could happen to any one of us,” Cooley said of the theft from an estate for which Latney, who also maintains a private law practice, was the executor.

Cooley said Latney is a fair and honest professional and that Cooley would not expect preferential treatment in his dealings with the prosecutor. Still, Cooley added, “I don’t know that I would take any case at this point in which he was the prosecutor” now that Cooley is soliciting money for Latney.

In 2004, Cooley won acquittal for John F. Ames, a Caroline cattleman and bankruptcy attorney, during a murder trial that Latney prosecuted. Ames had said he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot his neighbor during a dispute over a wayward bull.

While Cooley would not say how much he has contributed to the repayment fund or say who has donated money, campaign finance reports show that several attorneys have given money to Latney’s separate re-election campaign, including some defense attorneys who oppose him in court. One of them, Mark Murphy, gave $1,500, making him the top contributor to Latney’s campaign to date, based on the reports.

Cooley said yesterday that he sent the letter Sept. 20 to a select number of defense attorneys, prosecutors and others, though he would not specify to whom or how many people. Cooley said the fund drive has nothing to do with Latney’s re-election campaign, and he lamented that the letter had been posted on a blog maintained by a supporter of Latney’s opponent, Tony Spencer. Cooley confirmed the authenticity of the letter.

If it’s on the up and up, then what’s the problem?

Spencer, a former Richmond deputy commonwealth’s attorney, said yesterday that a copy of Cooley’s letter had been given to him and that he provided a copy to a supporter.

“I hold Craig Cooley in high esteem. I believe everything he does comes from a pure motive. But it would come as no surprise to anyone that the criminal defense bar would like to see Harvey Latney re-elected,” Spencer said.

Spencer has accused Latney of routinely agreeing to an excessive number of plea deals that result in dropped or reduced charges. Efforts to reach Latney by telephone and in person at his office in Bowling Green yesterday were unsuccessful.

Murphy, the top contributor to Latney’s campaign, represents Donna L. Blanton, a Caroline woman who won a retrial for her conviction in the October 2003 slaying of her law-enforcement husband. Blanton’s new trial is scheduled to start Nov. 29. Murphy represented her during her initial trial as well.

Murphy said yesterday that Latney is a longtime friend and an ardent advocate for the people of Caroline.

“I think he does a fantastic job for that community,” he said. “That’s to the point of absurdity that anybody would think that” a campaign contribution would affect the way a case is handled.

In the Blanton and Ames cases, Latney opposed defense motions, by Murphy and Cooley, respectively, seeking bond for the defendants pending trial. A judge granted Ames bond, but not Blanton.

No, Latney didn’t oppose bond for John Ames, he was paraphrased as saying, “Cooley’s request for a $50,000 bond was too low and that if Ames was released, he should be on court-ordered pretrial supervision.”

In his letter to colleagues, Cooley wrote that Latney’s insurance does not cover theft but that Latney plans to challenge the insurer in court. Cooley wrote that the secretary, Sheila M. Boone, appears unlikely to be able to pay restitution to the clients and that Latney is ultimately responsible to his clients.

“We have long known Harvey to be a man of honor and integrity and an underpaid but devoted public servant,” Cooley wrote. “He needs our help.”

Boone was initially indicted in Richmond Circuit Court, but her case has been turned over to federal authorities. She is scheduled to be tried Nov. 5 in U.S. District Court on charges that she embezzled thousands of dollars from an estate being handled by Latney.

John Ames’s defense attorney soliciting contributions for Harvey Latney

From Craig S. Cooley (PDF link below):

I write on behalf of our mutual friend, Harvey Latney, Jr..

As you are probably aware, a few months ago Harvey learned that his longtime trusted legal assistant had stolen funds from client accounts. These thefts occurred from an estate account, as well as his trust account, and his personal earnings. The assistant has been indicted but the disposition of the stolen funds is unknown and it appears she is unable to make any restitution.

Harvey’s malpractice insurance carrier denies coverage from theft. He will litigate that coverage question in Richmond Circuit Court, but even if he prevails, the insurance coverage is inadequate and this process is time consuming.

The client losses appear to be nearly $300,000.00. Harvey does not have the personal resources to repay these losses. Obviously, despite the fact the losses result from theft, he is ultimately responsible to his clients. Of course, he depends upon his continued professional practice for income and it now appears his ability to continue practicing law may depend on quickly repaying these client losses.

We have long known Harvey to be a man of honor and integrity and an underpaid but devoted public servant. He needs our help.

Therefore, I am asking that you consider a donation to assist in the immediate repayment of these client losses. Please send any amount you can afford, payable to “Craig S. Cooley, Trust Account” so that we can keep clear records of all contributions and document all payments made to Harvey’s clients. Please reference “Harvey Latney Client Restitution” on the memo of your check.

Thank you for your help. Please let me know of any other citizen or member of the Bar that I should contact for this purpose. With kindest personal regards, I am

Very truly yours,
[Signed]
Craig S. Cooley

This is the same Craig S. Cooley that represented John Ames in his first-degree murder trial. This is the same Craig Cooley that managed to secure bond for someone charged with first-degree murder. He managed to secure bond for someone that had previously been charged with attempting to run over a Virginia State Trooper! Charges that Latney nolle prossed! Why is it that Latney didn’t mind Ames being released on bond but both Donna Blanton and Thomas Monroe (both also charged with first-degree murder) were denied bond?

PDF of letter (recipient’s name and address redacted).

Who do defense attorneys want as Commonwealth’s Attorney in Caroline County?

Why, Harvey Latney, of course; at least, that’s if you go by contributions to his campaign.

Latney has so far received $4,750 in campaign contributions from defense attorneys this election.

A special one to note is Mark A. Murphy (who donated $1,500), a partner of the Law Office of Murphy & Strickland, who is currently representing Donna Blanton. She is charged with the first-degree murder of her husband Taylor Blanton, a twenty-three (23) year veteran and a first sergeant of the Virginia State Police. A complete breakdown is below:

Name:	Law Firm	Amount of Contribution	Certified Court-Appointed Attorney for Caroline County?
George Davis	George H. Davis, III, P.C.	$500	Yes.
John Lafratta	Main Street Law Offices	$250	Yes.
Steve Marks	Steven M Marks, Att-at-Law	$500	Yes.
Mark A. Murphy	Law Office of Murphy & Strickland	$1,500	No.
Robert Reibach	Chucker & Reibach	$500	No.
Kristina Fitzgerald	The Law Office of Kristina K. Fitzgerald	$500	Yes.
Ed Vaughn	Ed Vaughn, Attorney at Law	$500	Yes.
Woodbridge, Ventura, and Kelly	Woodbridge, Ventura and Kelly, P.C.	$500	Yes, Yes, Yes.

PDF (2.94mb) of the Campaign Finance Report for July through August.

Rep. Jo Ann Davis dies of breast cancer

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Rep. Jo Ann Davis dies of breast cancer:

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis died this morning at her Gloucester home after a battle with breast cancer. She was 57.

Davis was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and had a re-occurrence earlier this year.

She had been undergoing treatment at Duke University and was doing well, but her condition deteriorated in the last week, according to a press release from her office.

Service arrangements have not been released.

Davis was a Republican who represented the 1st District.

UPDATE: From the AP via WTOP: Congresswoman Dies After Cancer Fight:

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis, who represented southeastern Virginia for seven years, died Saturday morning after a two-year battle with breast cancer, her office said.

Davis, 57, died at her home in Gloucester.

Davis, a Republican, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and had a reoccurrence earlier this year. Her health took a turn for the worse during the past week, her office said.

She was first elected to Congress in 2000, and was a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Her first piece of legislation, passed by the House in 2001, increased the life insurance benefit paid to survivors of military members killed on duty.

Before Congress, Davis served in the Virginia House of Delegates. She was a former real estate broker and a horse enthusiast.

She underwent chemotherapy treatments and a mastectomy when she was first diagnosed in 2005. When her cancer returned, she underwent chemotherapy again and often monitored hearings from home.

She is survived her husband, Chuck, two sons and a granddaughter.

UPDATE #2: From the AP via WTOP: Political Leaders React to Death of Jo Ann Davis:

Reactions to the death of U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis, R-1st, who died Saturday at her home in Gloucester after a two-year battle with breast cancer:

“I always admired Congresswoman Davis’ strong convictions and the tenacity that she brought to bear in acting on them. We shared a warm friendship built around a mutual enjoyment of equestrian sports.”

_U.S. Sen. John W. Warner, R-Va.

“Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis made history when she became the first female Republican elected to the House of Representatives from the commonwealth in 2000. She inspired Virginians as she battled breast cancer while continuing to serve the commonwealth.”

_Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.

“Virginia has lost a passionate advocate for better government, and her legacy as a defender of conservative principles will always be remembered.”

_John Hager, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia.

“When her career took her to Washington, the entire commonwealth, and the country, benefited. She was a leader of integrity, common sense, and decency. …In a city where so many seek the bright lights of national publicity over the hard work of effective governing, Jo Ann always focused on the latter.”

_Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell.

“She was a good friend and a tireless advocate for America’s First District, as both she and Herb Bateman referred to the 1st Congressional District of Virginia. While we had different political loyalties, we had no differences in our efforts to work together for the Hampton Roads area and especially the shipping and defense industries.”

_U.S. Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, D-3rd.

“It is fitting that the month of October is dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness. Even as she battled through her own personal adversity, Jo Ann saw her illness as an opportunity to help others and raise awareness for this disease. Her efforts will live on through the lives that she touched.”

_U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, R-2nd.

“She was a dependable conservative voice on the challenges of our time, but I believe that her greatest contribution was the devoted manner in which she attended to the affairs of her district and the constituents she served.”

_Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling.

UPDATE #3: Hate to bring this up so soon, but from The Washington Post: Special Election Will Decide Successor to Va. Rep. Davis [emphasis mine]:

The successor to U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-Va.), who died yesterday at age 57, will be chosen during a special election on a date to be set by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), state officials said.

[…]

State law does not require Kaine to set the election date within a prescribed amount of time. An aide to the governor said that if Kaine decides not to call for a special election Nov. 6, Election Day for state and local offices, the special election could not be held until 30 days later, according to state law.

“We’re still researching exactly how this will be done,” said Delacey Skinner, Kaine’s communications director.

[…]

Two state Republican sources said yesterday that several names have emerged as potential candidates to run for Davis’s seat. Those include state Del. Robert J. Wittman (R-Westmoreland), Del. Melanie L. Rapp (R-York), Sen. Ryan T. McDougle (R-Hanover), Russ Moulton, former chairman of the 1st District Republican Committee, and GOP activist Paul Jost.

A Democratic source said at least one candidate might emerge from the party: Phil Forgit, an elementary school teacher who ran against Rapp in 2003.

For those not paying attention, Robert Wittman is the delegate for part of Caroline County (along with Robert Orrock and Chris Peace) while Ryan McDougle is the state senator for all of Caroline County.

Who does a convicted felon want as sheriff of Caroline County?

Why, Homer Johnson, of course. Or as Tom James has said, “[…] the only people who don’t like Sheriff Lippa are the criminals.”

A Ms. Ella Kay Pritchard wrote a letter in the September 5, 2007, edition of The Caroline Progress complaining about current Sheriff Tony Lippa and calling on voters to vote for Homer Johnson for sheriff in November. She even goes so far as to call Homer Johnson “[…] an honest & respectable member of our community”. Ha! Coming from a convicted felon! For even more humor consider Ms. Pritchard’s criminal history below:

Ella Kay Pritchard’s partial criminal history (felonies in bold):
- May 24, 2005, Caroline County Circuit:
  - Revoked suspended sentence/probation – Show Cause.
- April 6, 2005, Caroline County Circuit:
  - Guilty – Grand larceny.
  - Guilty – Capias.
- December 17, 2004, Caroline County General District:
  - Guilty – Obstruction of justice.
- November 5, 2004, Stafford County Circuit:
  - Guilty – Larceny third offense.
- August 6, 2004, Spotsylvania County General District:
  - Guilty in absentia – Speeding 60/45.
- January 20, 2004, Spotsylvania County General District:
  - Guilty – Following too closely.
- November 25, 2003, Stafford County General District:
  - Prepaid – Speeding 74/55.
  - Prepaid – Safety belt violation.
- April 17, 2002, Caroline County Circuit:
  - Guilty – Petit larceny.
- October 23, 2001, Spotsylvania County General District:
  - Guilty in absentia – Speeding 71/55.
- February 3, 2000, Stafford County General District:
  - Guilty – Bad check-$90.00
- October 22, 1999, Spotsylvania County General District:
  - Guilty – Bad check-$31.22.
  - Guilty – Bad check-$70.54.
  - Guilty – Bad check-$3.30.
  - Guilty – Bad check-$19.76.
  - Guilty – Bad check-$67.72.
  - Guilty – Bad check-$78.00.
- August 20, 1999, Hanover County General District:
  - Guilty – Driving suspended.

Kill a newborn? Get eighteen (18) months in jail.

From NBC 4 in Washington, D.C.: Woman Gets 18 Months In Newborn’s Death:

A Bethesda woman has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for killing her newborn baby last summer.

Ellen Griever, 22, was sentenced Wednesday on her guilty plea to a charge of child abuse resulting in death.

Griever brought the body of the full-term baby girl to Holy Cross Hospital in June 2006 and told workers there that the baby was stillborn. She later told police that the baby was born alive in the bathroom of her boyfriend’s house.

Prosecutors asked Montgomery County Circuit Judge Eric Johnson for a term of 12 to 20 years. The judge said he imposed the shorter sentence so she would go to the Montgomery County jail to receive some meaningful treatment.

More disturbing details from The Washington Post: Woman Gets 18 Months In Death of Newborn:

Yesterday, reality came into sharp focus for Griever, a former child-care worker, as a Montgomery County judge sentenced her to 18 months in jail for delivering a full-term baby girl into a toilet last summer and doing nothing to keep her alive as the newborn made “gurgling” noises and moved around.

[…]

Investigators called Griever’s behavior before the birth unfathomable and her calm demeanor afterward bewildering. She told detectives in videotaped interviews that she kept the pregnancy from her boyfriend, Joey Piemontese, because she was afraid he would leave her.

“She is not remorseful in those videotapes,” Assistant State’s Attorney Deborah W. Feinstein said. “She was not sad. It was chilling watching those videotapes.”

Prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum that Griever was at Piemontese’s house June 25 last year when she delivered the baby on his toilet about 5 a.m.

Griever told detectives that the baby “like gurgled” for less than a minute, prosecutors said. According to the memorandum, when a detective asked why the baby stopped moving and making noises, Griever said, “I don’t know, unless it was choking on its own mucus or whatever.”

Her boyfriend came to the bathroom shortly after the delivery and helped Griever move to the shower, prosecutors said. She told detectives that she left the baby in the toilet most of the day before placing her in a plastic bag that night, they said.

Griever called Holy Cross Hospital that evening and spoke to someone who encouraged her to come in with the baby. Early the next morning, Griever placed the baby, in a bag, in the trunk of her boyfriend’s car.

Griever and Piemontese then drove to his father’s house, where Griever took a bath and the two watched the animated film “Finding Nemo” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” The baby’s body was left in the trunk, prosecutors said.

That afternoon, Griever went to Holy Cross, where she told hospital workers that she hadn’t known she was pregnant and that the baby was stillborn. Medical examiners later determined that the baby’s head was in a position that prevented her from breathing and that she was asphyxiated.

Later, Griever told homicide detectives that a previous pregnancy had resulted in an abortion. “I was mostly worried, also, because I was like, I was afraid Joey would leave me,” she told detectives, according to the memorandum.

Caroline county couple remembered

From NBC 12 in Richmond, Virginia: Memorial service to honor deputy and girlfriend :

A memorial service on Friday night in will honor the lives of a Caroline County sheriff’s deputy and his girlfriend.

Authorities say 23-year-old Leonard Reel took his own life on Wednesday, just days after arriving at the scene of a deadly car crash, only to discover the victim was his girlfriend, 23-year-old Elizabeth Ryan.

The combined memorial service begins at 7 p.m. at the Bowling Green United Methodist Church.

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8819286613838011159]

From NBC 12 in Richmond, Virginia: Caroline county couple remembered :

A somber ceremony last night in Caroline county where dozens of people gathered to remember Deputy Leonard Reel and his fiancé Elizabeth Ryan.

Elizabeth was killed in a car crash on Monday; Reel was one of the officers called to the scene.

He was so overcome by the tragedy, that he took his own life two days later.

Last night’s service honored the lives of the young couple, on the verge of starting a new life together.

It’s a loss Elizabeth’s sister says she can’t make sense of.

“I truly don’t know where to begin,” she said “Your death has left me go numb so much. you truly were my best friend.”

Elizabeth Ryan leaves behind a three year old daughter.

In lieu of flowers, the sheriff’s office is asking the public to donate to a special fund set up to care for the child.

Donations can be sent to Union Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 220, Ladysmith, Virginia 22501.

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8265628563877809778]

Some pictures:

Reel_memorial

092807_18342

092807_18351

More pictures at the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office website.

Funeral Arrangements for Deputy L. W. Reel

From the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office:

Caroline County Sheriff’s Office
P.O. Box 39 118 Courthouse Lane
Bowling Green, VA 22427
Phone (804)-633-1120 Fax (804)-633-1124
E-Mail: sheriff@carolinesheriff.org

Sheriff A. A. “Tony” Lippa, Jr.

For Immediate Release – September 27, 2007

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR DEPUTY L. W. REEL

The Caroline County Sheriff’s Office has received the following information on the funeral of Deputy Leonard W. Reel, age 23, and Elizabeth C. “Liz” Ryan, age 23.

A combined memorial service will be held on Friday, September 28, 2007 at 7 p.m. The service will be located at Bowling Green United Methodist Church, 112 South Main Street, Bowling Green.

In lieu of flowers, a request has been made from the family for contributions to the fund for Elizabeth’s daughter, Ciarra Blount-Ryan. The fund has been established at Union Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 220, Ladysmith, Va 22501.

Following the memorial service, a reception will be held at Bowling Green Town Hall located at Courthouse Lane and Chase Street.

Anyone with questions about the arrangements is encouraged to call Major M. W. Hall at (804)633-5400.

Deputy Reel

From WTVR 6 in Richmond, Virginia: Deputy Death :

It’s a tale of two hearts connected by the graveyard shift.

A deputy meets his sweetheart 7 months ago. She was a clerk at at a Ladysmith gas station he frequently stopped in to buy a drink or use the restroom.

The two hit it off and had everything going for them until Monday. Deputy Leonard Reel was on his way to meet his girlfriend Liz Ryan, when he got a call to respond to Nelson Hill Road for a fatal traffic accident. Fourty minutes later, the deputy finds out that the victim is his girlfriend. Her three year old daughter Ciara was also injured and taken to Mary Washington Hospital.

Two days passed and the stress was just too much. Shortly after Reel’s sister leaves his house, Reel uses his service weapon to kill himself. Sheriff Tony Lippa says his deputy left a note behind saying in part that he couldn’t live without Liz.

A memorial service will be held for both Deputy Reel and Liz Ryan at Bowling Green United Methodist Church on Friday night.

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-394525410269740214]

I just want to say thanks to WTVR for their story on Deputy Reel’s passing.

You can leave comments on Storke Funeral Home’s website for Deputy Reel and his late fiancée Liz Ryan.