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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 14, 1995                   TAG: 9506140075
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

GRAND JURY INDICTS MAN IN STORE BREAK-IN

A Radford man faces trial on grand larceny and burglary charges stemming from a break-in at a downtown jewelry shop last March.

Eric Lawrence Phillips, 36, of Norwood Street, was among 14 people a Radford grand jury indicted Monday on a variety of charges.

He remains in Radford City Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond. Commonwealth's Attorney Randal Duncan said Phillips also is wanted in Pennsylvania for violating the terms of his probation there.

Phillips was arrested after someone broke out a plate-glass display window at Wall's Jewelers on Norwood Street and stole approximately $1,300 worth of items. A postal employee discovered the break-in on his way to work.

Indicted Monday on one count of arson was 25-year-old Kenneth Dwayne Brightwell of Radford. He is charged with setting fire earlier this year to a storage building at West View Cemetery on Fifth Street where he had once worked.

Duncan said Brightwell, who remains in jail, already was on probation for a previous arson conviction. He received a 10-year suspended sentence in that case.

A court-ordered psychiatric evaluation in April determined Brightwell is competent to stand trial, court records show.

Also indicted was Timothy Richard Irwin, 21, of Burke, who faces felony charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Irwin, who was a Radford University student at the time of his arrest last November, waived preliminary hearing in March.

The Montgomery County Drug Task Force, executing a search warrant at Irwin's Downey Street apartment last fall, confiscated $13,000 in cash and about 17 pounds of marijuana. Irwin, who was not home at the time, later turned himself in to Radford City Police.

Task force members arrested four other students and confiscated two weapons, including an assault rifle, during their search. Misdemeanor drug charges against Irwin's two roommates subsequently were dismissed.

Irwin posted $25,000 bond following his arrest.

by CNB