
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 6, 1991                   TAG: 9104060147
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PROSECUTOR SAYS BONDSMAN FAILED TO PAY JUDGMENTS

Roanoke authorities are asking a judge to suspend bonding privileges for a bail bondsman who owes more than $11,350 in forfeited bonds.

In a petition filed Friday in Roanoke Circuit Court, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Mac Doubles alleged that judgments against A. Byron Smith or his bonding company go back to 1969.

The judgments were entered after Smith's clients jumped bond, the petition says.

Bail bondsmen are paid a percentage - no more than 10 percent of the total bond - to post bond for clients. If the bonded person fails to show up for court, the bondsman is responsible for either locating the person or paying off the bond.

If the bonds are not paid, a judgement can be entered - as has happened at least 20 times with Smith, according to the petition.

The petition asks that Smith's bonding privileges be suspended until the judgments are paid.

by CNB