Crime

Man charged in Suffolk murder pleads guilty

jeff.sheler — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:37:37 -0500

SUFFOLK

The capital murder trial of Christopher J. Artis, accused of killing a Virginian-Pilot newspaper carrier in 2009, ended unexpectedly Friday when Artis pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder. He was sentenced in Suffolk circuit Court to 40 years in prison with 30 years suspended. Other charges against Artis were dropped.

Va. lawmakers back mandatory life term for child rape

Meredith.Kruse — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:26:30 -0500

By Michael Sluss RICHMOND The state Senate passed legislation today to increase criminal penalties for certain sex offenses and to require juvenile sex offenders older than 13 to register with a limited-access state sex offender registry

U.Va. lacrosse-trial jury views emotional interrogation

Mark.Edelen — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:47:24 -0500

By STEVE SZKOTAK

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. A former University of Virginia lacrosse player said he got physical with his former girlfriend but did not kill her, sobbing and saying "she's not dead" when detectives told him she died, according to a videotape played Friday at his murder trial.

Norfolk man gets 25 years for fatal DUI crash

Louis Hansen — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:55:11 -0500

A man convicted in a drunk driving crash that killed three passengers was sentenced today to 25 years in prison.

Craig A. Watson, 32, was convicted of driving under the influence and three counts of aggravated involuntary manslaughter for a violent vehicle crash after a night of partying at the Oceanfront.

South Hill firm charged with smuggling goods to Syria

tim.mcglone — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:21:50 -0500

NORFOLK
A South Hill company has been charged with smuggling $2.6 million worth of veneer to Syria, a country under a U.S. trade embargo and currently on the brink of civil war.

International Veneer Company is charged in U.S. District Court with smuggling goods from the United States. According to a court filing, the company is scheduled to plead guilty on March 1 and will face a fine.

Boy critical, father charged in Va. Beach shooting

Cindy.Clayton — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:23:48 -0500

VIRGINIA BEACH A 4-year-old boy is in critical condition this morning after being shot, and his father has been charged in the case. Nicholas A. Pierce, 26, was charged with felony child neglect after the boy was shot in the hip Thursday afternoon, police wrote in a news release this morning. He is being held without bond in jail.

Minor injury reported in shooting outside Norfolk club

Cindy.Clayton — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:06:19 -0500

NORFOLK A bullet grazed one person in a shooting this morning outside a Granby Street club.

Ex-Va. Tech QB DeShazo charged in prostitution sting

Cindy.Clayton — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:50:53 -0500

NEWPORT NEWS Former Virginia Tech quarterback Maurice DeShazo is among hundreds of men arrested in a nationwide sting on prostitution and other sex crime charges.

DeShazo is charged with soliciting prostitution. Media outlets report DeShazo was arrested along with 14 other men in Newport News.

Sentencing today in crash that killed three in Norfolk

Cindy.Clayton — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:22:38 -0500

NORFOLK A man convicted in a drunken driving crash that killed three passengers is scheduled to be sentenced today in Circuit Court. Craig Watson, 32, was convicted of three counts of aggravated involuntary manslaughter for a violent vehicle crash after a night of partying at the Oceanfront. A jury recommended a 25-year sentence.

Beach official: 'We could have done more' to save child

Matthew.Roy — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:45:29 -0500

VIRGINIA BEACH The director of the city's Human Services Department says his agency could have done more to prevent the death of a baby at the hands of a foster mother. The acknowledgment from Bob Morin comes days after the boy's biological mother said publicly that she alerted social workers to possible abuse days before his death two years ago.