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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 18, 1995                   TAG: 9501180074
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VERDICT WITHHELD ON CHARGE AGAINST BOTETOURT OFFICIAL

Botetourt County Commissioner of Revenue Steve Wampler was in Juvenile and Domestic Court on Tuesday facing charges that he assaulted and battered his wife with a child's tennis shoe.

Judge Dudley Emick did not find Wampler guilty or innocent; instead, Emick agreed to take the case under advisement for 60 days.

``There was enough evidence to find him guilty - he admitted to hitting her with the shoe, but the judge basically said [Wampler] has this time to be on his best behavior,'' said Salem Commonwealth's Attorney Fred King, who prosecuted the case.

There were cross-charges of assault and battery and trespassing against Wampler's wife, Donna, from whom he is separated.

Emick dismissed the charges against her stemming from the Dec. 10 incident.

by CNB