ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, June 4, 1996 TAG: 9606040072
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER
A Bedford County man was found guilty Monday of two counts of soliciting the murder of his estranged wife's male roommate.
Bedford County Circuit Judge William Sweeney found Jeffrey Neal Martin, 33, guilty of asking two men if they would kill or find someone to kill Elmer Eugene Jarrell, who was living in Moneta with Tammy Sue Martin.
Jeffrey Martin pleaded not guilty. He apparently thought his wife and Jarrell were romantically involved, but she has denied it.
Two of Tammy Martin's friends, Henderson Lacey and Charles Bowman, testified that Jeffrey Martin asked each of them to kill Jarrell. Lacey said Jeffrey Martin offered him $1,000.
Jeffrey Martin denied making the offers.
No attempt was ever made to murder Tammy Martin.
"The commonwealth's position is that this was a very serious matter that could set a very dangerous chain of events in motion that would have been hard to draw back," Commonwealth's Attorney Randy Krantz said.
Martin stands to serve up to 10 years in prison on both charges. He is awaiting sentencing in the Bedford County Jail. No sentencing date has been set.
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