Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 12, 1992 TAG: 9203120265
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Short
A jury deliberated 3 1/2 hours before clearing Charles E. Hudnall of charges of rape and forcible sodomy. A native of Newport News who later lived in Fairfax, Hudnall was a sophomore at VMI at the time of his arrest.
The assault was alleged to have occurred during Homecoming at W&L.
Hudnall testified Wednesday that VMI had given cadets the weekend off, but with the stipulation that if they returned to campus, they had to remain there. He said he went to Gilliam Hall at W&L about 3 a.m. looking for a place to stay.
Lexington police had said at the time of Hudnall's arrest that four or five students had heard a woman screaming for help. They ran to her room, where they found Hudnall. The students called university security and Hudnall was turned over to Lexington police.
Hudnall admitted that he surprised the student in her room, but he denied assaulting her.
Hudnall was unable to make bond after his arrest and resigned from the cadet corps.
He remains in jail on a charge of grand larceny in connection with an incident alleged to have occurred the same night, according to Bill Bobbitt, one of his attorneys. Trial on that charge is scheduled for April 3.
by CNB