THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 31, 1996 TAG: 9601310394
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ANGELITA PLEMMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
Nathaniel Richardson is no newcomer to the city's justice system. Richardson, 23, has been released on bond 25 times on charges that include murder and drug dealing, often to be charged with new crimes.
To some law enforcement officials, he has become one of the most striking examples of a revolving-door legal system in Portsmouth.
But on Tuesday, he was in jail without bond. And it was a misdemeanor charge that landed him there.
A Circuit Court judge refused to let him back on the streets after he allegedly hit a police officer while on bond for two felony charges. The judge on Tuesday ordered him to be held without bond for misdemeanor charges of assault and battery and disorderly conduct.
``This defendant is again associated with matters of a violent nature,'' said Circuit Court Judge Von L. Piersall Jr. in upholding a lower court ruling in which Richardson was denied bond. ``Before we can try one case, he's apparently involved in another.
``What I really want is for this young man not to be on the streets anymore.''
Last year, Richardson was charged with conducting one of the biggest cocaine deals in the city's history, involving approximately 700 grams of crack cocaine valued at $72,000. At the time, he was free on $50,000 bond for the alleged murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend. Hearings in both cases are scheduled for April.
The case that led to Tuesday's hearing was less dramatic.
Richardson said he was taking a friend to the emergency room for treatment at Maryview Hospital for a gunshot wound about 2:20 a.m. Sunday when a police officer accosted him. But the officer testified that Richardson was belligerent, uncooperative, struck him several times and threatened him.
``This is another circumstance that occurred that justified our position that he shouldn't have been out on bond in the first place,'' Commonwealth's Attorney Martin Bullock said Tuesday. ``We've contended that he's been a threat to the community, and this latest incident proves it.''
``No one person is bigger than the system,'' Bullock said. ``The message we want sent is we're not standing by waiting. We're aggressively pursuing people who wreak havoc in our city. . . . We don't want people who are a threat to the community on the street.''
Portsmouth Del. Kenneth R. Melvin, Richardson's attorney, who left a General Assembly session to attend the morning bond hearing, argued Tuesday that denying Richardson's bond would mean denying his constitutional rights.
``This man is charged with two misdemeanors,'' Melvin argued. ``He hasn't been convicted of the murder and he hasn't been convicted of the drug charge.''
``Give him a reasonable bond,'' Melvin said, noting that Richardson has shown up for hearings on the other charges and has no felony convictions.
But Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney David Dayton argued that Piersall should uphold a ruling by a General District Court judge on Monday to deny bond for Richardson.
``Part of being on bond is maintaining good behavior,'' Dayton said. ``This defendant is not a victim of circumstance. He exploded into a rage . . . and then threatened the officer in front of a room full of people. He is a danger to this community and deserves to be held in custody until he comes to trial.''
Richardson testified that he and a friend had left The Clubhouse, a Virginia Beach nightclub, and were heading home when they decided to stop by The Upper Deck, a Portsmouth nightspot.
Richardson said he had discovered that someone he knew had just been shot and was lying on the floor at The Upper Deck. Richardson said he picked his friend up, took him to his car and drove him to the emergency room at Maryview.
When he arrived at the hospital, Richardson said, he put his friend over his shoulder and carried him inside for treatment. As he was leaving, Richardson said, an officer began questioning him and grabbed him by the arm.
Richardson said the officer then put cuffs tightly on his arm and then restrained his other arm.
``By the time he even grabbed my arm, a whole bunch of police was at the door,'' Richardson testified.
The other officers also held him down, and he was arrested, he said.
However, Officer J.A. Quiros testified that Richardson was uncooperative when he entered the hospital.
``It took two of us to put his hands behind his back,'' the officer said. ``He was yelling and screaming the whole time.''
As he was being subdued, the officer testified that Richardson cursed and threatened him and struck him in the face and chest.
Richardson, who must remain in jail until his trial on the misdemeanor charges, faces a maximum $2,500 fine and 12 months in jail on each charge. MEMO: Staff writers Jon Frank and Lynn Waltz contributed to this report. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
RICHARDSON'S BOND HISTORY
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]
KEYWORDS: MURDER DRUG ARREST SENTENCING BAIL
BOND by CNB