Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 9, 1995 TAG: 9508090059
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: SHANNON D. HARRINGTON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Sodomy-related charges against two Radford men were reduced to misdemeanors and then dismissed Monday in Montgomery County General District Court.
Philip R. Sturgill, 34, had been charged with one count of sodomy after a victim complained to police. His charge was reduced to assault and battery after an agreement with the victim.
Lawrence E. Hubbard, 29, had been charged with one count of animate-penetration, a felony, for the same incident. His charge also was reduced to assault and battery.
Both charges then were dismissed after an agreement among all parties involved. Neither Sturgill nor Hubbard offered a plea, and neither were present in court.
Because of a miscommunication with the court, the dismissal of those charges was not included in a story in Tuesday's paper.
Sturgill also faced a charge that he bribed the victim not to tell police.
That charge was reduced to obstruction of justice, a class-three misdemeanor. Judge Thomas Frith fined Sturgill $500 after he pleaded no contest to the charge.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Skip Schwab said the victim agreed to settle all civil complaints against the two men if the charges were reduced so that he would not have to appear in court.
The victim left the state last week, apparently because he did not want to be in the area, Schwab said. He had no further details.
by CNB