THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 21, 1996 TAG: 9601210084
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
State and federal prosecutors have offered Marvin Jerome Damon a deal that could spare his life, as long as the reputed drug-ring hit man tells them about all the people he's killed.
Damon, 30, pleaded guilty in Richmond Circuit Court Friday to first-degree murder in the Feb. 16 shooting deaths of Darrell ``Li'l Money'' Henderson and Emanuel ``Ralph'' Leon Anderson.
The victims were found handcuffed together in the back seat of a car in South Richmond. Each had been shot several times in the head at close range.
Damon was indicted on capital murder charges in the deaths, but Richmond Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Larry S. Hogan amended the charges Friday in exchange for Damon's acceptance of life sentences on the reduced charges.
Authorities think Damon was the enforcer for Robert Russell ``Drip'' Williams, an accused drug trafficker facing the death penalty when he goes on trial in federal court beginning next week.
Hogan told Richmond Circuit Judge Robert W. Duling that Damon already has pleaded guilty to capital murder in U.S. District Court in the death of Lewis Pooler, 37, in March 1994.
Damon was subdued throughout the brief proceeding. He dropped his head, swallowed and paused when Duling began reciting the rights he would waive by pleading guilty. But he answered ``Yes, sir,'' in a quiet voice to the question.
Damon may get life in prison when he is sentenced Feb. 22 on the federal charges, Hogan said.
With Virginia's no-parole policy, ``the commonwealth is satisfied that Mr. Damon will be incarcerated for the rest of his natural life,'' Hogan told Duling.
Authorities think Damon is responsible for at least five other slayings. If he does not tell investigators about those and other crimes, prosecutors could reinstate the capital charges and seek the death penalty.
Two other men already convicted of drug-trafficking charges in federal court also have been charged with capital murder in the deaths of Henderson and Anderson.
Trial dates for Douglas A. ``Becky'' Dodson Jr. and Fred Bull Jr. will be set March 4. They cannot be sentenced to death, Hogan said, because Damon was the one who actually did the shooting.
KEYWORDS: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT VIRGINIA DEATH ROW by CNB