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

DATE: SUNDAY, January 16, 1994                   TAG: 9401160133
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

FURTHER EVIDENCE IS FOUND IN PROBE OF EX-OFFICIAL

Virginia State Police have discovered enough evidence in a probe of former General Services Director Raymond Patterson to make a case for prosecution, according to ex-Gov. Douglas Wilder's top aide.

Glenn Davidson, Wilder's chief of staff, said evidence in the continuing investigation has been turned over to the attorney general's office for a decision on how to proceed.

He said that Col. Carl R. Baker, state police superintendent, and Wilder administration officials agree that "there is sufficient evidence for a case."

"It's primarily about possible fraud against the state" and allegations of misappropriating state money, Davidson said.

Patterson's lawyer, James E. Sheffield, said he had heard nothing about the investigation since he and Patterson talked to state police several months ago. Sheffield previously said that his client has done nothing wrong and can prove it.

Sheffield said in a telephone interview Thursday that he knew state police were looking at travel records and a state-paid bill for moving office records.

"The moving costs were paid inappropriately but that was corrected," he said. He couldn't recall how much money was involved.

Davidson said that Baker and state police investigators briefed former Attorney General Stephen Rosenthal and Wilder's general counsel, Walter A. McFarlane, about the probe.

The attorney general's office could prosecute, decide against prosecution or turn the case over to Richmond's commonwealth's attorney, Davidson said.

David A. Parsons, a spokesman for the attorney general's office, confirmed that the attorney general has the authority to prosecute cases involving misappropriation of state money.

"A determination as to whether this matter rises to that level has not been made by this office," Parsons said Thursday.

The probe includes travel and related expenses by Patterson and his administrative assistant, Davidson said in interviews Thursday. The trips include one to Calgary, Canada, he confirmed.

Patterson is the primary focus of the probe, Davidson said.

The Wilder administration fired Patterson Oct. 20 and ordered the state police probe into problems with the botched renovation of the 900 East Main St. building and questions surrounding Patterson's travel.

The building project is $9 million over budget, six months behind schedule and marred by an asbestos emergency that exposed dozens of workers to the hazardous material.

by CNB