Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 10, 1991 TAG: 9104100396
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Clifford R. Brown and Clifford L. Brown - father and son - said the charges have hampered their plans to develop 2,000 acres just outside Glen Lyn in Giles County and into Mercer County, W.Va., for organic farming.
"We've spent $600,000 developing this place," said Clifford L. Brown, who has been living on the property for several months.
Brown said he and his father had hoped to employ 45 to 50 people on the farm.
The charges "are costing jobs in this state," he said. "We would have many more if not for these problems."
The charges stemmed from an incident in October involving four employees of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Authorities said the Browns had erected gates and posts around their property, some of which was administered by the Corps of Engineers.
The government charges that when Corps employees went to the property to take down the gates and posts, the Browns drove up in their pickup truck and demanded that the employees leave.
The charges allege the employees spotted a shotgun in the truck and were threatened with a tear-gas grenade.
Prior to the incident, the Browns had asked the Corps of Engineers to close a road to the property to curtail vandalism. The state had abandoned the road to the property owners on each side in 1951.
Clifford R. Brown, 52, faces a maximum 45 1/2 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both. Clifford L. Brown, 29, faces a maximum 55 years in prison, a fine of $1.25 million or both.
by CNB