THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 21, 1996 TAG: 9606210492
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 34 lines
A General District Court judge agreed Thursday to withdraw rape and sodomy charges against a Portsmouth defense attorney who allegedly assaulted a woman in April.
Retired Fairfax County General District Court Judge William R. Murphy granted a motion to nol prosse two charges against Sterling H. Weaver Sr. after a special prosecutor assigned to the case told the judge she did not want to pursue the case.
``At this point, the best interests of the commonwealth and the victim were served by the commonwealth nol prossing the charges,'' said Colette McEachin, a deputy commonwealth's attorney in Richmond who was handling the case.
Two other assistant commonwealth's attorneys from Richmond also were assigned to prosecute Weaver.
By nol prossing the charges, prosecutors can reopen the case at a later date.
After the hearing, McEachin said the decision was made after considering the contents of police and lab reports. McEachin would not disclose any details of the alleged rape and sodomy. ILLUSTRATION: MARK MITCHELL
The Virginian-Pilot
Portsmouth defense attorney Sterling H. Weaver Sr. walks to
Portsmouth General District Court for a preliminary hearing
Thursday. A special prosecutor later told the judge she did not want
to pursue the case against Weaver.
KEYWORDS: RAPE by CNB