Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 1, 1995 TAG: 9509010063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WINCHESTER LENGTH: Medium
``If there ever was a case that deserved the maximum penalty, this is the case,'' Frederick County Commonwealth's Attorney Lawrence Ambrogi said. ``A child that's subjected to this sadistic, savage, inhumane treatment was going to die sometime.''
The child died after a particularly brutal beating Jan. 22, according to testimony at Thursday's sentencing. Hoverter became enraged when Valerie tripped and spilled the tin can he forced her to use as a urinal. He pummeled the child, kicked her down the basement steps and then bragged to Valerie's mother about the beating, an investigator testified.
Hoverter, 50, was the live-in boyfriend of Valerie's mother, Wanda Smelser.
He was charged with first-degree murder and abduction. He pleaded guilty, but his lawyers said he was a bystander to the abuse committed by the child's mother.
``We're not dealing with the big, bad man. We're dealing with the big, bad woman and the wimp,'' lawyer J. Michael Solak said.
Wanda Smelser also is charged with murder and is undergoing psychiatric evaluation.
Hoverter showed no emotion when the verdict was read, but he broke down sobbing on the stand earlier Thursday as he talked about the child.
``I know if it could be done again, it would be a little different,'' Hoverter said. ``I would have taken things more into my own hands instead of letting her take over.''
Hoverter denied on the stand that he killed Valerie.
His voice broke when he said he was too cowed by Wanda Smelser to intervene and too in love to leave.
``Love's a funny thing,'' he said.
On the night Valerie's body was found, her brother Benjamin, 8, offered a one-word appraisal of life with Hoverter, Virginia State Police investigator William Shevokas said.
``He just said `hell,''' Shevokas said.
by CNB