ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, July 25, 1996 TAG: 9607250071
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
'Gross doesn't even describe it'
PRINCE GEORGE - Police, fire, health department and animal control officials strapped on oxygen tanks, covered their feet in knee-high wading boots and put on surgical gloves before entering a house where a woman and her daughter lived with 48 dogs.
They found dogs everywhere; 12 in a Dodge Aspen, 18 in an old van and the rest in pens or tied to boxes.
``Gross doesn't even describe it,'' said one police officer.
A fire call early Monday had revealed what firefighters called one of the worst scenes they've ever been to, said Reid Foster, Prince George County Fire Department assistant chief.
Neighbors complained about the smell, the trash, the barking and the rats at Leokadia Worten's house, saying the problem has been ongoing since 1990.
The supervisors discussed the possibility of condemnation, the process of the county taking over the woman's property.
Chairman Henry D. Parker Jr. said the health department has until noon Friday to take action, ``And if there is no action by Friday, then we will go up 95 North (to Richmond),'' he said.
Worten was charged Tuesday with one count of cruelty to animals, but Police Chief Jeffrey Brown said he expected many more charges. He said there also was the potential for licensing violations and vaccination problems.
All the dogs were skinny, had fleas, hair loss, and some had mange, said Jackie Cole, animal control officer.
- Associated Press
Noisiness nabs would-be carjackers
FREDERICKSBURG - Two teen-agers who allegedly attempted two armed carjackings within 20 minutes in Spotsylvania County on Monday night have been arrested in Prince William County.
Both attempts were thwarted by quick-thinking drivers.
In the first incident, a 21-year-old woman said she was in her car when a young man ran up to her window holding a gun. The suspect cursed and told her to get out of the car, but she said she stomped on the gas pedal and drove away.
A short time later, a man pulling into his driveway was confronted by two young men, one holding a gun. The man, 47, ran into his house and called police.
The boys, ages 16 and 17, were each charged with two counts of attempted carjacking, Maj. Howard Smith of the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office said.
Prince William police responded to a complaint Wednesday about noise at a motel and found the two boys, whose names were not released because they are juveniles.
- Associated Press
Ex-beau imprisoned for firing at woman
STAFFORD - Obsession with a former girlfriend will send a Stafford County man to prison for more than 10 years.
John M. Collins Jr., 36, was sentenced in Stafford County Circuit Court for firing a shot into Roxanne Montague's car while she was in it on July 8, 1995. She was not seriously hurt.
Collins said he wanted to scare her.
On June 7, just before a jury was to begin deliberations, Collins pleaded guilty to attempted murder, malicious wounding, stalking and using a firearm in a felony.
Collins was convicted of stabbing Montague in 1993, shooting at her house in 1989 and making phone threats.
- Associated Press
Guard, inmate indicted in pot case
STAUNTON - A prison guard and an inmate have been indicted by a grand jury on charges of smuggling marijuana into the maximum-security Augusta Correctional Center.
Guard Mark R. Stevens also was indicted on a charge of taking money from prisoner Robert D. Godfrey, and Godfrey was indicted on a charge of bribing a guard. The indictments were handed down Monday, court records indicate.
- Associated Press
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