ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 5, 1997 TAG: 9703050091
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
Battle of the remote hits new level
ARLINGTON - Infuriated by her boyfriend's channel surfing, an Arlington woman snatched the TV remote and cut his hand with a butcher knife when he tried to take it back, police said.
Renee Deskins, 40, cut Jeyone Aubrey Mills' left hand deeply enough to sever tendons and nerves. She has been charged with malicious wounding, a felony.
``They were arguing over who would control the remote. I have never heard of anything like this,'' police spokesman Jim Page said.
The two were watching television about 5 p.m. Sunday when they disagreed about what to watch and who was going to change the channel, police said.
Deskins grabbed the remote from Mills and ran with it into the kitchen with Mills in pursuit. She picked up a butcher knife and slashed the back of Mills' hand, according to police.
A preliminary hearing for Deskins is set for May 7.
- Associated Press
Corrections officer wounded by gun
HONAKER - An Appalachian Correctional Unit guard caused a stir Tuesday when he shot himself in the leg.
The officer was overseeing inmates on a road work crew in the Mills Creek section of Russell County when the incident occurred, Virginia State Police dispatcher Chuck Galyean said.
The guard gave his weapon to a Department of Transportation employee to hold while he used the bathroom, Galyean said. The revolver discharged when the guard put it back in his holster.
The guard, whose name was not released, was treated and released at Russell County Medical Center, said Galyean.
``It was really no big deal,'' Galyean said. But he said police received a lot of calls from people who heard about the incident on their scanners.
Department of Corrections spokesman David Botkins said the incident is under investigation, although preliminary indications are that it was simply an accident.
About 110 inmates are housed at the Appalachian Correctional Unit, a minimum security prison in Honaker, Botkins said.
- Associated Press
Official under fire commits suicide
FAIRFAX - A former Fairfax County building inspector accused of soliciting unusual cash loans from owners of buildings he oversaw has apparently killed himself.
Robert A. Henry, 50, was found dead at home Monday from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, county spokeswoman Jean V. White said.
Henry faced five misdemeanor conflict of interest charges. Prosecutors said Henry and another senior engineering inspector often asked for small loans from representatives of several building companies.
Henry resigned June 21. Fellow inspector William Settle was fired three days later. Settle still faces eight similar charges.
Under Virginia's Conflict of Interest Act, public employees may not accept favors, including loans, from anyone doing business with the government.
Henry joined the county government in 1974. He earned $41,080 when he resigned.
- Associated Press
Controversial Nelms to be opposed
RICHMOND - Michelle Degnan, a Chesapeake schoolteacher, said she will seek the Democratic nomination for the House of Delegates seat held by Republican Robert E. Nelms of Suffolk.
Nelms also could face a challenge for the GOP nomination after being arrested last winter for indecent exposure in a Richmond park. He pleaded guilty and was banned from parks in the city.
Degnan, 44, said Monday that she was running in part to help reverse the education priorities of Republican Gov. George Allen. She cited Allen's reluctance to accept federal Goals 2000 money and his focus on academic basics that could squeeze out electives such as foreign language and art.
``I think Virginia has lost sight of what should be our top priority during this administration,'' she said. `I don't see the current delegate doing anything to buck the tide.''
Nelms refused to comment on Degnan's candidacy.
- Associated Press
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