Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 12, 1994 TAG: 9403120091
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Henry David Jordon, 26, received the sentence along with an additional 30 days for assaulting a student in a school hallway.
It was believed to be the first time in Roanoke that an adult was charged under a new state law that bans beepers from schools, and it led to one of the most severe punishments so far.
The portable communication devices, which are sometimes associated with drug dealing, have been off-limits to most students in public and private schools since 1992.
Most of the beeper charges have involved students and were handled in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, where probation was the usual outcome, according to Roanoke Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Mac Doubles.
Jordon's case was different because he apparently had no legitimate reason to be at Patrick Henry.
Testimony showed that he confronted a student at the school on Jan. 24 and accused him of harassing his girlfriend, who also was a student at Patrick Henry. Jordon told authorities that he was at the school to see his girlfriend.
When police arrested Jordon on the assault charge, they found a beeper tucked inside his belt.
General District Judge John Apostolou sentenced Jordon to 60 days on each charge, but suspended half the time for a total of 60 days to serve.
Jordon pleaded not guilty but offered no defense.
So far this school year, about 20 beepers have been confiscated from Roanoke students and destroyed, according to city police.
With so many exemptions - the law does not apply to teachers, school officials, employees, security guards, police officers, rescue workers, firefighters and anyone else with a legitimate need for a beeper - beeper-carrying drug dealers seem to be the only target.
"Clearly the code section is written to address the drug dealers and the people who want to look like drug dealers," Doubles said.
"Some kids just wear them to look cool," he said.
by CNB