Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 2, 1994 TAG: 9403020069
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Short
Judy Dean, 48, has not been charged with setting the clubhouse ablaze Sunday night, although notes left in her car showed that was her intention, authorities said.
Dean, who authorities said attempted suicide after the fire began, is in St. Alban's Psychiatric Hospital in Pulaski County.
Commonwealth's Attorney Phil Keith said a warrant for Dean has been secured but not served. Authorities want to allow Dean to recover before taking action.
"If any charge is to be pursued, it will be pursued at the time she leaves the hospital," Keith said.
Keith said the decision to charge Dean will be up to him, and that he will take into account the clubhouse owners' wishes and public policy.
"The general public policy is, you cannot let people go around burning down buildings for whatever reason they might have," or whatever their state of mind might be, he said.
The blaze caused $450,000 damage to the building, authorities said.
Chuck Hartman, club president, said the board of directors met Monday to plan rebuilding.
He said board members were not bitter and were not intent on pressing charges now, but were more concerned for Dean's health.
Hartman said some kind of temporary structure will be used before beginning construction of another permanent facility.
by CNB