Portsmouth man convicted in 2008 hostage situation

PORTSMOUTH

A jury on Wednesday found Vernon Ray Chappelle Sr., 50, guilty of charges related to a January 2008 hostage situation and standoff with police.

Chappelle had held his estranged wife and children in their Churchland home. A concerned neighbor called police.

The case was continued more than 15 times, and Chappelle changed attorneys about five times. Part of the delay involved waiting for mental-competency evaluations.

Chappelle ultimately was found guilty of three counts each of abduction and use of a firearm.

The jury recommended he serve 17 years in prison. He will be sentenced by Circuit Judge James C. Hawks on Jan. 9.

Chappelle, who has been in custody for almost three years, tried to run out of the court building on the first day of his trial, a Sheriff's Office security official confirmed.

E.C. Goumenis, commanding officer of court security, said it will be up to the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office whether Chappelle is charged in that incident.

Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Harris said prosecutors have asked for the deputy and police officer who witnessed the incident to provide written statements.

Defendants often are not shackled in front of a jury for the same reason they are allowed to wear street clothes rather than jail uniforms - for fear of prejudicing a jury.