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

DATE: SATURDAY, August 13, 1994                   TAG: 9408150038
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EX-ADVISER ON PROBATION FOR TRYING TO BUY FIREARM

Although Canty pleaded no contest last month to providing false information on a criminal background form for a gun purchase, Roanoke Circuit Judge Clifford Weckstein took the case under advisement.

The charge will be dismissed if Canty, 34, stays out of trouble for five years and completes 120 hours of community service a year.

At the time Canty tried to purchase the .25-caliber pistol last September at a Roanoke pawn shop, he was awaiting trial on charges of having sex with a 13-year-old student at his home.

A jury acquitted Canty of that charge in April, but by then he already had lost his job as a dropout prevention counselor in the city schools.

Canty now is the manager of a video rental store but testified Friday that he hopes to return to counseling.

Canty admitted that he answered "no" to a question on the firearm purchase form that asked if was ever convicted of a felony or was under indictment. He said he did not read the question closely and believed it inquired only about felony convictions.

State law prohibits convicted felons and people with pending felony charges from purchasing firearms.

Defense attorney Tony Anderson said it would be an "absolute travesty" to convict Canty of a felony, given his many contributions to the community.

Although Chief Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Betty Jo Anthony did not ask for a jail sentence, she argued that Canty should be convicted.

"If we're going to let people who use bad judgment like he did teach our young people, then we're in a world of hurt," she said.