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

DATE: TUESDAY, February 8, 1994                   TAG: 9402080118
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

CAPTURED MAN GETS 20 YEARS FOR BURGLARY

A man tracked down last year in Jefferson National Forest, where he had built his own fortress and armed himself with guns and explosives, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison on burglary charges.

Willie Lon Rice II was arrested a year ago and charged with being part of a burglary ring. While free on bond, he disappeared, and his clothing was found by a riverbank.

Authorities did not believe he had drowned. After a long and cautious search, they found him last May on National Forest property.

He still faces federal charges of possession of explosives, because he had 22 sticks of dynamite when he was caught.

by CNB