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

DATE: THURSDAY, December 1, 1994                   TAG: 9412010120
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

IN VIRGINIA

A prosecutor promised in opening arguments Wednesday to prove Carroll Dodson became a rich drug kingpin by running a cocaine distribution network in Southside Virginia.

But Dodson's attorneys said the case against Dodson and three others rests solely on the testimony of criminals doing what they must to lighten their own sentences.

Dodson, of Danville, and five of his brothers were accused of being involved in the drug trafficking. One brother, Raleigh Dodson, is being tried with him in U.S. District Court in Roanoke.

The other defendants are Patrick Earl Francis of New Jersey, the alleged cocaine source who also is known as Jerome Brown; and Jermaine Chase. All four are charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine along with various drug and firearms violations.

- Associated Press

Stepfather charged in 9-year-old's death

NEWPORT NEWS - A man whose 9-year-old stepson fatally shot himself with the stepfather's shotgun has been charged with felony child neglect.

Mark Agee, 24, was arrested for what police contend was willful neglect of the safety of Billy Bridges.

Police have ruled that the Sept. 14 shooting was accidental, but they have no explanation for why Billy was handling the shotgun.

- Associated Press

Keywords:
FATALITY