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

DATE: SUNDAY, October 2, 1994                   TAG: 9410030089
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: D-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN VIRGINIA

NORFOLK - Inmates at several Hampton Roads jails now must make co-payments when they get medical care. Jail officials hope the move will reduce frivolous visits to doctors.

Effective Saturday, all prisoners at the Norfolk City Jail had to pay $10 to see a doctor or dentist and $5 to have a prescription filled. A similar plan went into effect the same day at the Newport News City Jail; prescriptions there cost $3, however.

At both jails, prisoners will not be refused medical care if they have no money, officials said.

Prisoners will be charged through their canteen accounts. If their accounts are low, the bills will be paid as soon as the inmates have the money.

The Norfolk plan will not charge for medical, dental or mental health screenings, emergencies or follow-up visits to physicians.

The Portsmouth City Jail instituted a co-payment plan Sept. 1.

- Associated Press

Man gets 5 years in killing drug dealer

RUSTBURG - A jury convicted a man for killing a crack dealer and repeatedly burning his body in a tire fire, but sentenced him to only five years in prison.

The Campbell County Circuit Court jury convicted Elmer Adams of second-degree murder Friday after two days of apparently difficult deliberations.

The jury could not be told that Adams pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery in the strangulation death of his wife 19 years ago. He said then that he acted in self-defense.

Commonwealth's Attorney Neil Vener speculated that the reputation of the victim and the witnesses affected the jury.

Adams was charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

- Associated Press

Clear Brook woman dies after cleaning

CHARLOTTESVILLE - A woman who was severely burned while cleaning at a food company plant in Winchester has died at the University of Virginia hospital, a hospital spokesman said.

Janet L. Corder, 26, of Clear Brook, died Thursday night.

Corder was burned sometime between 4:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. Wednesday by water or steam or both while cleaning a National Fruit Products Co. Inc. plant, company spokesman Herb Glass said.

- Associated Press