Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 17, 1993 TAG: 9311170157
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Short
James S. Ellenson, Iverson's attorney, also said he will ask Gov. Douglas Wilder to pardon Iverson, who was convicted of taking part in a bowling alley fight in February.
The Virginia Court of Appeals, in its second ruling Monday on Iverson's case, rejected a bid for bond pending the appeal of the case.
A three-judge panel of the court had ruled Oct. 21 that there was no abuse of discretion by Iverson's Hampton Circuit Court trial judge in denying appeal bond. On Monday, the same panel declined to reconsider the issue.
"We will go to the Supreme Court, and after that it will go to Governor Wilder," Ellenson said.
Iverson, 18; Samuel Wynn Jr., 19; and Michael Simmons, 19, were put behind bars in September by Judge Nelson Overton for their roles in a Valentine's Day chair-throwing brawl that injured three people.
Iverson is serving a five-year sentence at the Newport News City Farm. He was convicted on three counts of maiming by mob, a felony.
The prosecution of Iverson has outraged black leaders because no whites were charged as a result of the melee that broke out between a group of blacks and a group of whites. Authorities said no complaints were lodged against the whites, who appeared to be defending themselves.
Iverson's case drew national attention because he is considered one of the top high school basketball players in the country. As a junior last season, he led Bethel to state championships in football and basketball.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.