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

DATE: FRIDAY, July 14, 1995                   TAG: 9507140062
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Short

SODOMY, BRIBERY CHARGES FILED AGAINST JEWELRY STORE OWNER

The owner of a Norwood Street jewelry store faces felony charges of sodomy and bribery stemming from an incident in early April. Philip R. Sturgill, 34, of the 300 block of 10th Street, was arrested Monday and charged with one count of sodomy and one count of bribing a witness, Radford police Detective Lt. Wayne Frye, said Thursday.

Frye said Sturgill is accused of trying to bribe the male victim, who reported the sexual assault to police last weekend.

Police also arrested Lawrence E. Hubbard, 29, of the 300 block of Clement Street, in the same incident. He was charged with animate-object penetration, or anal intercourse, a felony. The victim told police the assault took place at Hubbard's residence.

The Montgomery County commonwealth's attorney's office will prosecute the case against Sturgill. Commonwealth's Attorney Philip Keith said Thursday that Radford prosecutor Randal Duncan withdrew from the case because he had made purchases in the past at Sturgill's store. Keith said he had not yet received information on the case from Duncan's office. No date has been set for a preliminary hearing.

Sturgill has been released on $7,500 bond. Radford attorney Robert Turk, who's representing Sturgill, had no comment on the matter Thursday.

Duncan said Thursday he also plans to withdraw from Hubbard's case because the two cases are so closely related.

Hubbard was released on $10,000 bond. A tentative preliminary hearing for Hubbard has been set for Aug. 7 in Radford General District Court. A public defender has been appointed to represent Hubbard.

- New River Valley Bureau

by CNB