WOMAN FACES WOUNDING, FIREARMS CHARGES IN '92 SHOOTING

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

DATE: SATURDAY, March 6, 1993                   TAG: 9303060140
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Short
WOMAN FACES WOUNDING, FIREARMS CHARGES IN '92 SHOOTING
Charges against a woman accused of shooting her husband on Christmas Day were sent to a Montgomery County grand jury Friday after a preliminary hearing in Montgomery County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
Debra L. Roach, 36, who formerly lived on Thomas Lane in Montgomery County, faces charges of malicious wounding and using a firearm to commit a felony. An attempted murder charge was withdrawn at Friday's hearing.
Malicious wounding carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison, while attempted murder carries a maximum 10-year sentence, Commonwealth's Attorney Phil Keith said.
Clarence D. Roach, 37, was shot once in the head at about 6:30 a.m. on Christmas, investigator R.L. Hamlin of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said.
A bullet from a .380-caliber automatic handgun struck Roach on the left side of the head beneath the temple. He spent several days in a hospital.
Debra Roach was not charged until Jan. 5 because authorities were investigating two different versions of the shooting.
Hamlin said in January that Clarence Roach said he was in bed when his wife came into the bedroom, kneeled beside him, kissed him and told him she loved him, then said she had a surprise for him. He was then shot, Roach told investigators.
Debra Roach said her husband had shot himself, Hamlin said.
She is free on $90,000 bond.
Clarence Roach has filed for a divorce, according to his attorney, Joe Painter of Blacksburg.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB