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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 22, 1994                   TAG: 9407200035
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                 LENGTH: Short

COURT RESTORES 1989 CONVICTION

A closely divided Virginia Court of Appeals on Tuesday reinstated a man's conviction and 50-year prison term for abducting a 5-year-old Fairfax County girl who has never been found.

The court, in a 5-4 decision, overturned a ruling by a three-judge panel that threw out Caleb Hughes' conviction for abduction with intent to defile.

Hughes has remained in prison pending the outcome of the hearing before the full court.

Hughes was convicted of abducting Melissa Brannen from a Christmas party in 1989 with the intent of sexually molesting her.

- Associated Press

Memo: longer version ran in the State edition.

by CNB