[7Franklin-Body]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A partially burned body was found yesterday morning in Franklin County.
According to published reports, the body was found along a private road in the Sydnorsville area.
Authorities don't know the identity of the man, but say he appears to be in his twenties or thirties.
Sheriff's deputies are continuing their investigation, and an autopsy will be performed this morning.
[7E-Stephens]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-57 1:52:40]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A guilty verdict in the fatal shooting of a Pittsylvania County man.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]
It took the jury three hours to find Quentin Lamont Stephens guilty of second degree murder of Delvecchio Farmer in October 1997.
They recommended the minimum penalty-- a 5-year jail sentence.
The jury also found him NOT GUILTY on charges of armed burglary and using a firearm in the commission of murder.
The prosecution contended the killing happened as a group of men, including Stephens, tried to rob the victim of drugs and money.
While Stephens may have been in on drug activity that led to the shooting, the jury ultimately believed he was NOT there when it happened.
The Commonwealth's Attorney says it's not the verdict he wanted, but he's satisfied the jury did it's job.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:00:53-:01]
[IN Q=This jury paid]
((DAVID GRIMES: THIS JURY PAID CLOSE ATTENTION TO ALL THE EVIDENCE AND I DON'T QUESTION THE FAIRNESS OF THEIR JUDGEMENT OR THE INTENSITY OF THEIR DELIBERATIONS.))
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:05:20-:31]
((J.P. ROGERS: I TOLD THE DEFENDANT OF ALL THE VERDICTS OTHER THAN AN ACQUITTAL THIS WAS THE BEST HE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE HELD OUT HOPE FOR.))
[SUPER=01-David Grimes/Prosecutor;]
[SUPER=01-J. P. Rogers/Defense Attorney;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=out hope for.]
(-----------------)
[vo-nat]
The judge sentenced Stephens to 5-years in jail... as the jury recommended.
Stephens is debating with his lawyer whether or not to appeal the verdict.
(----------------)
[7E-Ceparano]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#98-58 1:52:38]
[GRAPHIC=Ceparano]
Should the burning and beheading of a black Grayson County man be considered a hate crime?
Louis Ceparano doesn't think so.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Grayson Co./File Tape;]
Ceparano and Emmett Cressell, Junior were sentenced to life in prison for killing Garnett "G-P" Johnson.
Johnson was burned alive and later decapitated in July of last year.
The federal government is currently looking into whether the crime should be deemed a hate crime.
Ceparano says the evidence just isn't there.
He spoke with NEWS 7 by phone yesterday from the Grayson County jail.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I personally]
((LOUIE CEPARANO:I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PROVE THE HATE CRIME IN THE FACT THAT GP WAS MY FRIEND AND THAT I CAN PROVE I'M NOT A RACIST TOWARD ANY NATIONALITY. ))
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=any nationality.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Ceparano had been hoping to withdraw his plea agreement in which he was sentenced to life in prison but escaped the death penalty.
But the deadline to appeal has now expired.
(----------------)
[7E-Earley-Klan]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=98-73 14:34]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A cross burning in Carroll County has caught the attention of the State Attorney General.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ebensburg, PA/May 1992;]
Barry Black of Pennsylvania is charged with burning the cross, but says the case should be dismissed because it interferes with free speech.
Mark Earley's office and prosecutor Greg Goad will argue that Virginia state law is constitutional and that intimidation can never be considered free speech.
[SUPER=03-Richmond/September;]
Black's attorney is David Baugh, a member of the state A-C-L-U.
A hearing is set for Friday.
(------------)
[7WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a look now at your midweek forecast..
Skies turn mostly sunny today, as breezy conditions continue. Look for highs to rise all the way up into the mid-60s.
Clear and cold overnight, with some light winds. Lows are expected to drop into the lower-30s.
The extended forecast...
[CK/WX PRO=]
MAPS
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds W 10-20/60-65/Clear & Colder/Winds NW 5-10/30-34;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[7BIRTHDAYS!] 11/12/98
Thursday:
[SUPER=130-35/Teresa Gallagher/Salem]
[SUPER=130-8/Brandi Anderson/Fairfield]
[SUPER=130-2/Robert Huff/Floyd]
[SUPER=130-50/Wilford Johnson/Troutville]
[SUPER=130-58/Leonard Snead/Rocky Mount]
[SUPER=130-8/Cameron Linkenhoker/Buchanan]
[SUPER=130-4/Adam Drosdak/Roanoke]
No Pictures:
[SUPER=131-/Posey Montgomery/Roanoke]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;][45Franklin-Body]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=none]
An autospy will be performed today on a partially burned male body discovered in Franklin County.
According to published reports, county deputies found the body along a private road in the (Sidnersville) Sydnorsville area of the county.
Authorities don't have an I-D on the man, but say he appears to be in his twenties or thirties.
[45E-Accident]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=98-66 37:49]
[GRAPHIC=Acccident]
A two car collision in Roanoke County sent two people to the hospital last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
It also tied up traffic on Route 2-21 for nearly 30 minutes.
The vehicles collided at the intersection of Chatsworth Drive and 2-21 at about 6:30.
Police have not released the driver's names.
(----------------)
[45E-L'burg-Council]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#98-71]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg]
The construction of a Home Depot Store is now the subject of controversy in Lynchburg.
Developers are hoping the store will be the anchor of a major new shopping center.
But concerns over traffic congestion have put the project on hold.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=On paper it]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Phillip Ross/Developer; :14]
[SUPER=01-Walker Sydnor/Opposes Project; :39]
[SUPER=01-Edward Embrey/Opposes Project; :50]
[SUPER=@ssm1; 1:01]
[RUNS=1:16]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]
(( On paper it sounds like a no- brainer.
A northern Virginia developer wants to turn this tract of land into a major shopping center.. creating hundreds of new jobs and pumping millions of dollars into the local economy.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 9:51:16]
[IN Q=If Lynchburg wishes]
((PHILLIP ROSS/DEVELOPER: IF LYNCHBURG WISHES TO CONTINUE ITS GROWTH AND MAINTAIN ITS PLACE AS THE CENTER OF COMMERCE FOR THE REGION, THEN IT NEEDS TO ASSURE THAT A PORTION OF THESE SALES AND THESE SALES TAX DOLLARS REMAIN IN LYNCHBURG.))
[RUNS:15]
[OUT Q=remain in Lynchburg.]
But the biggest concern is traffic.. the Graves Mill Road intersection already is congested, and nearby businesses fear adding a huge shopping center will only make it worse.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 9:45:30]
[IN Q=What this proposal]
((WALKER SYDNOR/OPPOSES PROJECT: WHAT THIS PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF YOU IS SUGGESTING IS THAT LAND BE TAKEN FROM AN EXISTING BUSINESS, IN THIS CASE SCOTT INSURANCE, IN ORDER TO ENABLE A BUSINESS ACROSS THE STREET TO BE PLACED THERE.))
[RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=be placed there.]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 9:46:30]
[IN Q=We're not opposed]
((EDWARD EMBREY/OPPOSES PROJECT: WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA, BUT WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE CONGESTION IN THIS INTERSECTION WITH NO INGRESS AND NO EGRESS WILL BE UNSAFE AND WOULD NOT BE IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST.))
[RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=city's best interest.]
(/////SOT/////)
[Standup]
[IN Q=City council won't]
((City council won't make a decision on the rezoning until December. Developers say they're willing to wait until then.. but if the city drags its feet, they're more than willing to take this project, and the jobs and money it will generate, somewhere else. Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))
[RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]))[45E-School-Board]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Rke Seal]
The Roanoke City School Board is looking for ways to improve student discipline and security.
Suggested ideas include-- closed circuit television, two- way intercoms, and more video cameras on buses.
The suggestions were submitted by a special committee that spent a year studying school needs.
The list also includes lower pupil-teacher ratios, more training for teachers, better communications with parents and students, and the use of electronic equipment to monitor and deter inappropriate behavior.
Superintendent Wayne Harris has warned that the next budget will be a lean one... and the recommendations of the discipline committee must compete with other board priorities for available funding.
[45WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Checking the mid- week forecast now--
After some morning cloudiness and showers, skies will turn mostly sunny.
Highs in the low to mid 60s.
Clear and colder overnight, with lows dropping into the lower 30s.
In the extended forecast, partly to mostly sunny through the weekend.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds W 10-20/60-65/Clear & Colder/Winds NW 5-10/30-34;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;][8Franklin-Body]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Authorities are searching for clues in connection with a partially- burned body found yesterday morning in Franklin county.
According to published reports, the body was found along a private road in the (Sidnersville) Sydnorsville area of the county.
Authorities don't know the identity of the man, but say he appears to be in his twenties or thirties.
An autopsy will be performed this morning.
[8E-Stephens]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-57 1:52:40]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
Yesterday, convicted killer Quienten Lamont Stephens found out how much time he'll spend in prison.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]
The jury found him guilty of second degree murder for shooting Delvecchio Farmer in October 1997.
They recommended the minimum penalty-- a 5-year jail sentence.
The jury also found him NOT GUILTY on charges of armed burglary and using a fire arm in the commission of murder.
The prosecution contended the killing happened as a group of men, including Stephens, tried to rob the victim of drugs and money.
While Stephens may have been in on drug activity that led to the shooting, the jury ultimately believed he was NOT there when it happened.
The Commonwealth's Attorney says it's not the verdict he wanted, but he's satisfied the jury did it's job.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:00:53-:01]
[IN Q=This jury paid]
((DAVID GRIMES: THIS JURY PAID CLOSE ATTENTION TO ALL THE EVIDENCE AND I DON'T QUESTION THE FAIRNESS OF THEIR JUDGEMENT OR THE INTENSITY OF THEIR DELIBERATIONS.))
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:05:20-:31]
((J.P. ROGERS: I TOLD THE DEFENDANT OF ALL THE VERDICTS OTHER THAN AN ACQUITTAL THIS WAS THE BEST HE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE HELD OUT HOPE FOR.))
[SUPER=01-David Grimes/Prosecutor;]
[SUPER=01-J. P. Rogers/Defense Attorney;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=out hope for.]
(-----------------)
[vo-nat]
The judge sentenced Stephens tonight to 5-years in jail... as the jury recommended.
Stephens is debating with his lawyer whether or not to appeal the verdict.
(----------------)
[8E-Ceparano]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#98-58 1:52:38]
[GRAPHIC=Ceparano]
Whether or not the burning and decapitation of a black man in Grayson county is a HATE CRIME is the topic of a federal investigation.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Grayson Co./File Tape;]
Louis Ceparano and Emmett Cressell, Junior were sentenced to life in prison for killing Garnett "G-P" Johnson.
Johnson was burned alive and later decapitated in July of last year.
Ceparano doesn't think it should be considered a hate crime- he says the evidence just isn't there.
He spoke to NEWS 7 by phone from the Grayson County jail.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I personally]
((LOUIE CEPARANO:I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PROVE THE HATE CRIME IN THE FACT THAT GP WAS MY FRIEND AND THAT I CAN PROVE I'M NOT A RACIST TOWARD ANY NATIONALITY. ))
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=any nationality.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Ceparano had been hoping to withdraw his plea agreement in which he was sentenced to life in prison but escaped the death penalty.
But today we learned-- the deadline to appeal has now expired.
(----------------)
[8E-Spangler]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=98-72 18:45]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
Giles county prosecutor Garland Spangler is on the other side of the law again...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pearisburg/August 1997]
Someone filed an anonymous complaint against him with the State Bar association.
It's the second time someone has made allegations against Spangler.
The first complaint is still pending.
(------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[graphic=hold]
The latest complaint came to light because a judge appointed a law firm to represent Spangler- -at taxpayer's expense.
The first complaint alleges that a rape case had to be dropped because Spangler missed the deadline to prosecute th
e case.[8WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Time again to check the forecast--
Becoming mostly sunny later today, with a westerly breeze.
Highs in the low to mid 60s.
Clear and colder overnight, with lows dropping into the 30s.
The four day outlook is partly to mostly sunny, with highs mainly in the 50s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds W 10-20/60-65/Clear & Colder/Winds NW 5-10/30-34;]
by SS