Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 16, 1993 TAG: 9310160087
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Stephen August Schlachter, 25, of Blacksburg pleaded guilty two years ago to two charges in connection with a theft ring that operated March 1987-August 1989.
The burglaries netted more than $150,000 in items, including computers, from buildings and apartments at and around Tech.
Schlachter, a Tech junior at the time, was sentenced to 20 years in prison with four months to serve and eight years probation.
Schlachter was arrested after police traced a gun found in a car in Maryland to a Blacksburg robbery. Shawn Louis Morvay of New Jersey, who also was indicted and served a six-month sentence, told police of the theft ring.
Charges of conspiracy with intent to commit grand larceny were dismissed last month against a third Tech student, William Charles Jenkins, after a judge ruled the search of his car had been illegal.
On Friday, Schlachter faced having his probation revoked because of allegations he had not properly notified his Arlington, Va., probation officer that he had moved to Austin, Texas.
But Schlachter persuaded Circuit Judge Kenneth Devore to continue his probation after testifying that he thought he had taken the right steps to have his probation transferred to Texas.
Sam Arnold, a probation officer serving the Montgomery County court system, said Schlachter told him last month he had received permission from his Arlington probation officer to go to Texas and that he thought the transfer proceeding had been started.
Schlachter has been living in Texas since January.
Arnold said Schlachter should have been aware - after not being contacted by Texas probation officials - that the transfer had not been accomplished.
Schlachter agreed, but testified he thought the process was just taking time. When he learned police were looking for him, he immediately contacted his former probation officers in Virginia.
Schlachter has been working for a computer company in Austin. Devore ruled that his probation should be transferred to Texas.
Schlachter recently paid his court costs in full and also paid $2,200 in restitution. Commonwealth's Attorney Phil Keith said that Schlachter and Morvay are liable for $20,000 in restitution owed to Tech and Blacksburg residents.
by CNB