ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, June 28, 1996 TAG: 9606280061
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETTY HAYDEN SNIDER STAFF WRITER
A Roanoke County Circuit Court judge on Thursday convicted a former sheriff's deputy of stealing a prisoner's credit cards, and put him on probation.
Judge Diane Strickland found William G. Lucas Jr. guilty of felony credit card theft.
Lucas pleaded no contest in April to stealing one of Robert Paul Dallas' credit cards from the county jail's property room. Dallas was convicted earlier this year of 24 counts of sexual molestation.
The judge, who took the case under advisement in April, sentenced Lucas to two years in prison Thursday. But she suspended the entire sentence, in keeping with sentencing guidelines, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Randy Leach said. Lucas will be on probation for two years and was required to pay court costs.
He has paid the $1,200 in restitution owed to the credit card company.
Tom Blaylock, Lucas' attorney, said he tried to have the felony charge reduced to a misdemeanor. But Leach contended that because Lucas was a sheriff's deputy, he should have known better, and the judge agreed.
Blaylock said his client has learned his lesson.
"It not only [brought] shame to him, but also to his department," the attorney said. "He realizes what a terrible mistake he made."
The conviction also means Lucas must give up a career in law enforcement. He resigned from the Sheriff's Office shortly after Roanoke County police began investigating allegations made by Dallas last fall.
"He didn't lose a job; he lost a career," Blaylock said.
Lucas testified that he was under a lot of stress at the time he took Dallas' credit card, his attorney said. He had problems at home and work, and a close friend had died of cancer.
Lucas has been receiving counseling and will continue to do so, Blaylock said.
Lucas has been working for a towing company and plans to open an automobile body repair shop.
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