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

DATE: FRIDAY, June 11, 1993                   TAG: 9306110213
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

PROSECUTOR IS FREED FROM DUTY

A judge suspended Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney Joseph Morrissey from his duties Thursday while the prosecutor awaits his felony trial on charges of bribery and perjury.

Nottoway Circuit Judge Thomas V. Warren, who is hearing the Richmond case, also rejected Morrissey's motion to dismiss the five-count felony indictment.

Warren barred Morrissey from overseeing the prosecutor's office but did not force him to resign. "I can't un-elect him," the judge said.

Alexandria lawyer James C. Clark, the special prosecutor in the case, said Morrissey would be a danger to the community if he continued to perform his duties while under indictment for alleged misconduct in office.

He could intimidate staffers who might testify against him and would be unable to work with the Virginia State Police, which conducted the probe that led to his indictment, Clark said.

Morrissey's attorney, Raymond A. Carpenter, said Morrissey has agreed not to fire any staffers while the trial is pending.

Morrissey was indicted by a special grand jury last Friday and lost a Democratic primary to David M. Hicks four days later.

Morrissey has 6 1/2 months left in his four-year term.

by CNB