THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 26, 1995 TAG: 9512260035
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Chauncey Jackson, a teenage murder suspect who was released on a technicality and then failed to show up for a new court hearing, was arrested Monday.
``It was a wonderful Christmas present that the Police Department gave us,'' said Becky Roberts, whose brother was killed more than a year ago, police say by Jackson.
Ronald G. Bonney Jr., 27, was shot to death on Vine Street in Diggs Town on Aug. 31, 1994.
Prosecutors have previously said that Jackson confessed to the slaying. A co-defendant, Calvin Outlaw, has been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 68 years in prison.
Police spokesman Larry Hill said Jackson, 17, was arrested after a brief chase in the Campostella section of the city.
Officer J.R. Forbes of the 1st Precinct was on routine patrol about 6 p.m. when he spotted a person fitting Jackson's description in the 1000 block of Roseclair St.
``He saw him get into a car with another person and drive away,'' Hill said. Forbes followed the car and radioed for help.
The pursuit went only a few streets before the car stopped and Jackson surrendered.
``He was driving,'' Hill said. ``The other person in the car was released.''
Hill declined to comment on reports that Jackson is a suspect in a robbery committed since he has been on the run. But he acknowledged that Jackson will have a hearing before a Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court judge on Wednesday on charges not related to the murder.
Jackson was charged originally as a juvenile in connection with the murder. His case was transferred from Juvenile Court in September 1994; then he was indicted as an adult in Circuit Court the following month.
A Circuit Court judge did not review the juvenile transfer before prosecutors presented the charges to the grand jury, however, as required by a state law that took effect in July 1994.
As a result of this procedural error, Judge Lydia Taylor released Jackson more three months ago on a $20,000 personal recognizance bond. She later ruled that prosecutors had to re-indict Jackson if they wanted to try him for murder.
On Dec. 6, a grand jury indicted Jackson on capital-murder charges. That afternoon, police went to arrest Jackson at his grandparents' home, but he was not there.
Troy Spencer, one of Jackson's lawyers, sought to arrange his client's surrender.
``I tried my best to get him to turn himself in to me,'' Spencer said recently. ``I really thought he was going to.''
KEYWORDS: MURDER BAIL by CNB