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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 10, 1993                   TAG: 9311100125
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

STUDENT FACES FAKE-ID CHARGES

A Virginia Tech freshman from Salem faces several charges of manufacturing false driver's licenses after a search of his dormitory room.

Trevor Allan Willis, 18, a business major who lives in East Pritchard Hall, was charged Tuesday with manufacturing a fictitious driver's license, attempted manufacture of a fictitious license, three counts of possessing fictitious driver's licenses and one charge of underage possession of alcohol.

According to a search warrant on file at the Montgomery County Clerk's Office, officers recovered several items used to produce fake licenses, including laminating material, operator license information for Virginia and West Virginia, and a Polaroid camera.

Blacksburg and Virginia Tech police searched Willis' dormitory room Oct. 28 after an informant - who was wearing a transmitter - went to the dormitory and met with a person who said his name was Trevor. The man made a fake driver's license for the informant. The informant saw other fictitious licenses and driver's license parts while in the room, according to the search warrant.

Police also seized $400 in $20 dollar bills, computer equipment, several operator's licenses, notebooks containing physical descriptions and an open bottle of rum.

Larry Hincker, university spokesman, said any administrative action would likely be decided after the court proceedings.

Willis is scheduled to be arraigned today. A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 6 in Montgomery County General District Court in Blacksburg.

"The university considers these violations very serious, and we will always not only comply, but also cooperate with, the local police," Hincker said.

Hincker said the university works to bring to students' attention that "the law is very, very serious on this."

Manufacturing a fake license is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum punishment of a year in jail and a $2,500 fine. Possessing fake licenses also is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

by CNB