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

DATE: FRIDAY, October 8, 1993                   TAG: 9310080132
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

FAKE BOY SCOUT BADGE CHARGES DISMISSED

Prosecutors have dropped charges that a former DeKalb alderman sold counterfeit Boy Scout badges at a Scout Jamboree.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Wednesday that several other vendors also were selling patches without Boy Scout authorization - a reason that figured highly in prosecutors' decision to drop the case against Michael Welsh.

"There is evidence that other people are doing it, and it's not clear who's authorized and who is not," said Joan Evans, assistant U.S. attorney. "The Boy Scouts ought to define clearly what is wrongful."

Welsh, 38, was arrested in August at Fort A.P. Hill for violating copyright law by selling the badges. The crime carries fines of up to $1 million.

- Associated Press

by CNB