THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 22, 1995 TAG: 9512220450
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
A young man who spent 15 months in prison for a break-in because of a lie told by two neighbor girls was pardoned by the governor Thursday and released into the arms of his parents.
``I'm going home to do my Christmas shopping,'' 19-year-old Christopher Prince said before leaving the Staunton Correctional Center.
Prince, whose IQ of 75 is considered borderline retarded by many doctors, was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading no contest, on the advice of his lawyer, to breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony.
A 13-year-old girl had picked Prince out of a lineup and said he entered her bedroom and told her he intended to have sex with her. Her 12-year-old friend also said she saw Prince in the house that night in 1994.
In October, both girls admitted that they had lied. They have not said why.
Gov. George F. Allen said the results of a lie detector test administered by the state police indicated the 12-year-old girl falsely accused Prince. The older girl did not take a lie detector test.
``As far as I'm concerned, it's clear Christopher Prince is innocent,'' Allen said, in announcing the pardon.
Prince was freed hours later from the prison in Staunton, about 100 miles northwest of Richmond.
``I was mad at the girls at first, but they're young, and I'm OK with it now,'' Prince said. ``You learn to forgive.''
Commonwealth's Attorney Gary L. Close said he will charge the older girl with perjury because of her false testimony at a preliminary hearing. If convicted, she could be held in a juvenile center until she turns 21.
He said he also may charge the younger girl, even though she has moved to Florida.
Prince's parents hired a private investigator after Prince insisted he was innocent. The girls' story crumbled when the former FBI agent began questioning them. They admitted they lied only after the Prince agreed not to sue them.
Close said a break-in did occur: A man raised the window and sneaked into the house that night, but did no damage and took nothing. The prosecutor said he did not know whether the intruder went into the girl's bedroom.
Prince's father said the family could now look forward to celebrating Christmas with their son.
``Christmas has been on hold for the family because we didn't know whether he would be out or not,'' Vernon Prince said. ``We don't have a tree up, but we're going to go fix that now.''
Prince's former attorney, Rex Edwards, said he recommended his client plead no contest because he feared a jury would find out about his criminal record and come down harder on him.
A month before the break-in, Prince had pleaded guilty to having sex with a 14-year-old girl. He had also spent 90 days in a juvenile detention center for stealing one of his father's guns. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Christopher Prince, center, of Culpeper, is greeted by his parents,
Vernon and Mary, after being released Thursday from prison. In
October, Prince's accusers said they were lying. Prince's parents
said they had had no reason to buy a Christmas tree; but now, that
was changed.
by CNB