
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 17, 1994                    TAG: 9406170814 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: B5    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: HAMPTON 
DATELINE: 940617                                 LENGTH: Short

FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

{LEAD} A former Navy airman was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for fatally shooting a man during a party at a hotel.

Victor Alvelais, 21, had been convicted of first-degree murder for the Jan. 18, 1993, shooting death of Charlie Howerton, 25.

Circuit Judge Walter J. Ford also sentenced Alvelais to two years in prison for using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Authorities said Alvelais was thrown out of a party at the Sheraton Inn-Coliseum, and then chased Howerton, one of the party's organizers, through the lobby and shot him. Howerton died the next day.

Another murder charge is pending against Alvelais in his hometown of Dallas, where authorities say he shot a man during a dice game. The slaying occurred after Alvelais skipped bond in Hampton and flew home while waiting to be tried for Howerton's death, authorities said.

{KEYWORDS} MURDER SENTENCE

by CNB