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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 27, 1994                   TAG: 9404270104
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

FINAL CHARGE AGAINST NEELY DISMISSED

Neely had faced assault and battery charges filed by two brothers, the sons of Neely's landlord.

Eric and Kevin Wiltsee alleged, in warrants sworn out with a Montgomery County magistrate, that Neely assaulted them on Feb.12 at their mother's house, in which Neely lived.

Neely swore out cross warrants, alleging that it was the brothers who attacked him and trespassed on his property. He said he was acting in self-defense.

The charges were filed while Neely was out of jail on bond pending appeal of federal convictions that he used his law office to help smuggle drugs and launder drug profits. If Neely had been found guilty of the misdemeanor charges, federal authorities could have revoked his bond, forcing him to begin his 10-year prison term.

At the request Tuesday of attorneys for Neely and Eric Wiltsee, substitute Judge Robert Breimann Jr. dismissed all remaining charges.

Neely has since moved out of the Farmview Road home he rented from Lynda Nelson, the Wiltsees' mother.