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Former Prosecutor in Winchester Arrested on Tampering Charges

Former Winchester Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Hampton Thomson was arrested Monday, charged with conspiring to tamper with evidence and a witness.  Thomson is accused of visiting an informant several times while the informant was on drugs.  The informant claims he sold cocaine to Thomson.  Thomson says he recently suffered from "a post-traumatic stress breakdown."  Thomson was the Commonwealth's Attorney in Winchester for four years until he lost a re-election bid in 2001.

Do You Know What Penalties You May Face for a Virginia Drug Offense?

Fairfax Bartenders Arrested for Fire-Breathing Act

Tegee Rogers, a 33-year-old Herndon man, and Justin Fedorchak, a 39-year-old Manassas man, were arrested last month a Jimmy's Old Town Tavern in Herndon.  Rogers and Fedorchak were charged with three felonies and several misdemeanors: manufacturing an explosive device, setting a fire capable of spreading, burning or destroying a meeting house, and other state fire misdemeanors.  The arrests stem from the fire-breathing act the bartenders have been performing for years, a 13-year tradition for Jimmy's Old Town Tavern.  Reportedly, Fairfax County fire investigators received a letter in the mail complaining about the act.  Jimmy Cirrito, owner of Jimmy's Tavern, says fire marshals never sent him a letter or gave him warning of any violations.  Cirrito does not believe they have broken any laws, however, he would have put an end to the act if he had been notified of the investigation.

Serial Stabbing Suspect Arrested; Attacks Span Virginia, Michigan and Ohio

Elias Abu Elazam, a 33-year-old Middle Eastern immigrant was arrested in Atlanta Wednesday on an outstanding 2008 assault warrant from Leesburg as he tried to board a plane bound for Israel.  Elazam is suspected in as many at 18 stabbings in Leesburg, VA; Flint, MI; and Toledo, OH.  Elazam's ex-wife and mother-in-law and former employer were reportedly shocked at the accusations.  Elazam lived in Leesburg from 1998 until 2008; he was married in Leesburg in 2004 and divorced in 2007.  Oh, and he got a Virginia fishing license in 2006.

DUI Checkpoint Yields Animal Cruelty Charge: Goat Found in Trunk

A 32-year-old woman from the United Kingdom was arrested at a Bedford, VA drunk driving checkpoint Friday night after police heard noises coming from her trunk and discovered a bound goat was the source.  The woman told police she was giving the goat to her four passengers who were from Kenya and that such transportation an animal was acceptable in her culture.  The temperature was 94 degrees and the goat was panting heavily.  The woman was charged with animal cruelty.

Failed Defense Strategy: Fake Death Certificate

In 2007, with 9 prior convictions, Rodney Newsome of Manassas was facing serious jail time in a Fairfax County Court for attempted fraud.  After Newsome plead guilty to the charges, his attorney, George Freeman, presented a death certificate to Fairfax Circuit Court Judge Bruce White claiming that Newsome had passed away due to complications after surgery.  Judge White dismissed the charges. 

Newsome resurfaced, alive and well, in the Fairfax County Court this week after being arrested again on fraud charges.  An attentive circuit court clerk, Mary McGaffic recognized the name and alerted the Commonwealth’s Attorney to the situation.  Newsome claims he had no knowledge of the death certificate previously presented to the court.  Newsome’s bond was remanded to jail while the court and his new attorney sort out the situation. 

Attorney George Freeman has not yet commented.

Supreme Court Eliminates Life without Parole Sentencing, Expect in Homicide, from Juvenile Cases

The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that, other than in crimes of homicide, the sentence of life without the possibility of parole was cruel and unusual punishment for juveniles.  The ruling was made in a 5-4 vote. 

"The inadequacy of penological theory to justify life without parole sentences for juvenile nonhomicide offenders, the limited culpability of such offenders, and the severity of these sentences all lead the Court to conclude that the sentencing practice at issue is cruel and unusual." ~Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Woman Caught Shoplifting Complains to Police about her Treatment at the Grocery Store

A loss prevention officer at Wegman's in Fredericksburg, VA observed a woman leave the store with over $400 worth of groceries for which she had not paid.  When the officer confronted the woman she refused to wait for police, left the groceries and drove her and her children away.  Michelle Carrasco, a 32-year old woman of Stafford County, drove to the police station herself to complain about how the store had treated her.  Carrasco was arrested for felony shoplifting and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after it was brought to officers' attention she was caught on tape leaving the store without paying for her items.

New Policy in Boston, MA: Officers will be Fired for Lying

Boston, MA Police Commissioner Edward Davis has issued a new policy by which officers caught lying on the job will be fired from the force.  This policy arrived on the heels of several high-profile cases in which officers lied, leading to civil suits and a damaged reputation of the Boston PD. 

Certainly begs the question . . . what was the ‘policy' before?

Manassas Bank Robber Strikes Again at Wachovia

Since November 12^th, there have been 3 other bank robberies in the Manassas area and the same man is suspected in a fourth that happened yesterday around 3:30 pm.  The man, said to be wearing a blue hoodie and blue jeans, robbed the Wachovia Bank on the corner of Church Street and Grant Avenue and then successfully fled on foot.  This culprit is said to be linked to the November 12^th robbery of the Synergy One Federal Credit Union off Sudley Manor Drive and the November 30^th robbery of the United Bank on Liberia Avenue.  He is described as 20-30 year-old, white male, 5'7" - 5'8" tall and about 150 pounds.

18-Year Old Boy is Dead After Exchanging Gunfire with Police in Albemarle County

Colby Eppard, of Standardsville, Virginia, set in motion a multi-agency pursuit after refusing to stop for police following a hit-and-run crash.  Eppard fled from his vehicle on foot and eventually stole a police car to continue his getaway.  The chase spanned multiple counties and ended in the exchange of gunfire.  No officers were injured by the gunfire, but Colby Eppard was killed.  Eppard was 18-years old.  The incident is under routine investigation by state police and internal agency.

Fauquier County Deptuties Attacked in Courthouse

BREAKING NEWS: Two Fauquier County deputies were injured in a courthouse attack today around 1pm.  George Phillips, a suspected bank robber, was being transported to the courthouse for a hearing when he reportedly overpowered one of the deputies and stole his gun.  Phillips then shot a deputy in the leg and stabbed another in the face.  Both deputies, at least one of which was flown to INOVA Medical Center in Fairfax, are reportedly in stable condition.

Our thoughts are with those involved.

Fairfax County Man Arrested in Getaway Canoe

Andrew Wren, 20-years-old, was arrested in Fairfax County on several charges after he allegedly burglarized a Virginia ABC store.  This arrest adds to the 12 crimes of which Wren has been accused since last year.  Wren was found on a getaway canoe with roughly a dozen bottles of Patron.

Teens Charged as Adults in Robbery-Murder

Artie Ellis, 15 years old, and Emily Drew Geller, 18 years old, are being held without bail in Montgomery County Correctional Facility (Maryland) on robbery and murder charges.  Ellis and Geller allegedly hit their victim, 57-year old Ali Reza Zare, over the head with a shovel, robbed him and left him for dead. 

Appeal Grants Marcus Vick More Jail Time

Questions Surrounding Death of Steve McNair

The death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was ruled a murder-suicide after his body was found shot to death along with his girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi.  Police determined that Kazemi had shot McNair and then took her own life as a result of mounting pressures.  Speaking out now, friends and family of Sahel Kazemi say they do not believe this is possible and highlight some seemingly major inconsistencies in the facts uncovered by police.

Virginia Homeless Man Arrested in Carjacking Incident

Robert George Howard was arrested Wednesday following a chase that spanned the Virginia counties of Hampton, Newport News and York.  Howard allegedly forced the driver of the 2007 Ford Mustang to drive to several locations and to withdraw money, finally letting the victim out of the car and fleeing in his vehicle.  Ultimately, Howard what charged in Hampton County with carjacking, robbery, abduction and three counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony; and state police charged him with grand larceny, DUI, reckless driving, driving on suspended-4^th offense, and littering.  Howard is 30-years old and is being held without bond in the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail.

Scam Involving DUI Offenders Busted

Donald Stoner, a 37-year-old man from Pennsylvania has been arrested on federal charges after a scam involving DUI offenders was uncovered by police.  Stoner reportedly obtained more than 100 DUI offenders personal information from the courts and used it to fraudulently open bank accounts, create loans and deposit money.  He is said to have gotten away with $27,000.

Former Virginia Sheriff Pleads Guilty to Racketeering

Former Page County Sheriff Daniel Presgraves entered a guilty plea Friday on racketeering charges.  Presgraves faces up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.  By agreeing to plead guilty, prosecutors dismissed several other charges he faced including conspiracy and sexual assault.  The charges stemmed from accusations that he interfered with a cockfighting ring in return for bribes in Harrisonburg.