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

DATE: FRIDAY, December 23, 1994                   TAG: 9412240045
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                 LENGTH: Short

3 ACCUSE MAN OF AX THREATS

A Wythe County man already facing charges of aiming a rifle at a National Guard helicopter now is accused of threatening three men with a bush ax.

Three men have obtained warrants against Jack A. Upchurch, 37, of Cedar Springs, charging him with threatening them with the ax. Upchurch has obtained trespassing warrants against his three accusers: James Randall Kirk, Danny R. Parks and Charles Edward Sheets.

Upchurch is awaiting trial on a federal charge that he pointed a rifle at a helicopter that was on a marijuana-plant search in August. The craft, occupied by a pilot, co-pilot and spotter, took evasive action when its occupants saw a man with a rifle. No shots were fired.

by CNB