Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 4, 1995 TAG: 9505040097
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Short
Christopher Shawn Wheeler, 15, had been represented since December by the public defender's office in Pulaski.
But on Wednesday, a lawyer from that office asked Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge William Thomas for permission to withdraw from the case, citing a possible conflict of interest with other clients represented by the office. The request was granted.
Thomas now must appoint another defense attorney. Because of the charge, the attorney must be qualified to handle capital murder cases.
Wheeler is charged in the fatal shooting of Deputy Cliff Dicker, 58, on Dec. 6. Sheriff Wayne Pike has said Dicker was wounded with a .22-caliber hunting rifle when he came to Wheeler's home to serve some papers; and the second, fatal, wound was inflicted with the deputy's own 9mm pistol.
Dicker was serving papers on Wheeler for auto theft and petty larceny. Pike has said the boy, who had been hunting squirrels that morning, asked permission to change his clothes before accompanying the deputy. Dicker agreed. But instead of changing clothes, Wheeler came back with a rifle, Pike has said.
Hearings had been scheduled for Feb. 15, March 10 and April 21 on whether Wheeler would be tried as a juvenile or an adult, but were postponed each time. Now, nothing further can happen until Wheeler's next attorney has had time to become familiar with the case.
Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.