ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 17, 1996 TAG: 9611180079
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
Escapee convicted of murder
LEESBURG - A man whose escape from the Loudoun County jail went unnoticed for a day and a half was convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting death of a supervisor at a migrant worker camp.
Jose Sagastume, 29, of Washington, D.C., also was convicted by a Loudoun Circuit Court jury of using a firearm in a felony. The jury recommended a sentence of 38 years in prison. Sentencing was set for Dec. 19.
Sagastume was on the run for two days after his escape and allegedly assaulted a woman before he was recaptured. The incident led to the resignation of three Loudoun sheriff's deputies and changes in the way county inmates are supervised.
Sagastume still faces trial on charges of escape, abduction, attempted rape and grand larceny.
In the murder trial, Sagastume's lawyer argued that his client shot Rogelio Lozano, 40, in self-defense in October 1995.
But Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Owen Basham said the bullet wounds were inconsistent with a self-defense claim. Lozano was shot six times with a five-shot revolver, meaning Sagastume must have reloaded, he said.
- Associated Press
Police say kids trashed church
ASHLAND - Two children, ages 8 and 9, are responsible for a destructive rampage than caused about $9,000 in damage at an Ashland church, police and the church's pastor said.
The Rev. Robert Thompson, pastor of First Baptist Church-Ashland, said Friday that the children's parents came to him with the news before telling police.
``The parents were visibly upset over what had happened,'' Thompson said.
The children live within two blocks of the church. Juvenile petitions will be obtained against both children, said Ashland Police Chief William Martin.
The vandalism was discovered last Sunday. Electric candlesticks were smashed, holes were punched in a stained-glass window, and paint was dumped in preschool classrooms.
- Associated Press
Ex-Crestar executive gets 18 months
NORFOLK - A former Crestar Bank vice president who embezzled more than $447,000 was sentenced to 18 months in prison without parole.
Odell B. Bundick, 43, of Smithfield pleaded guilty in August. She stole the money from a Crestar branch in Newport News, where she had worked since 1987.
Bundick defrauded the bank by making up doctors' names, filling out bogus loan documents for them and signing the documents. In all, there were four phony doctors and 15 fraudulent loans.
- Associated Press
GMU dormitory evacuated in fire
FAIRFAX - A George Mason University dormitory was evacuated Saturday morning when a fire started in a third-floor room.
Byron Jones of Lynchburg, who lived in the room where the fire started, was treated at a local hospital for minor burns on both hands, GMU spokesman Daniel Walsch said. No one else was injured.
Walsch said the fire started after Jones, 21, lit a candle, then fell asleep.
Jackson Hall houses 78 students. They were allowed to return to their rooms about two hours after the 7 a.m. fire, Walsch said.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Medium: 69 linesby CNB