The Journal
www.journalpress.com
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014
9
Crouch denied bond while appealing conviction in cemetery fraud case Robert Crouch, who was sentenced to five years in prison, fined $35,000 and ordered to pay more than $84,000 in restitution for defrauding customers of the former Meadow-Brooke Memorial Gardens Cemetery in King George, will remain in jail while his case is being reviewed by the Virginia Court of Appeals. Crouch, 47, of King George, was convicted in a King George Circuit Court last year on nine counts of failure to deposit in the proper trust account, and five counts of receiving
money by false pretenses. The jury convicting him recommended the sentences handed down by Circuit Court Judge Martin Bass. Crouch appealed his convictions and was granted a hearing by the Virginia Court of Appeals. In King George Circuit Court last Friday, Crouch sought to be released on bond while the appeal is pending. Commonwealth’s Attorney Keri Gusmann forcefully opposed Crouch’s bond request.  Crouch’s attorney, Christopher Reyes
of the public defenders office, told Judge Bass that the Commonwealth had not proven “the essential element� in the Crouch case- the charges of obtaining money by false pretenses. Reyes argued that Crouch could legally take money from the cemetery and transfer it to his other businesses. Gusmann said Crouch’s actions amounted to a classic “shell game� and were an obvious attempt to defraud cemetery customers. Reyes also told Judge Bass that Crouch had not actually violated the
law, citing a case decided in 1998, Rooney v. Commonwealth. The Rooney case had similar facts to the Crouch case, but Rooney was found guilty of embezzlement. Gusmann successfully argued that Crouch was found guilty of obtaining money by false pretenses, a different crime, and that different crimes have different elements of the offense. Â In addition, Gusmann argued that the law was changed in 2005, and that Rooney was no longer valid law. Judge Bass ruled for the Common-
wealth and ordered Crouch to remain in custody while his appeal is being considered. The Virginia Court of Appeals’ decision to hear the appeal means the issue will be debated further in a full appeals hearing next Spring. After Friday’s bond hearing, Gusmann said, “The jury spoke loud and clear when they sentenced Crouch to five years. The only way to protect the community from a predator is incarceration.� “Crouch preyed on this community,� Gusmann said. “The denial of bond
today means he will not get the opportunity to further prey on our community during the time it takes the Court of Appeals to hear his appeal.�  Crouch was found guilty last year by a King George Circuit Court jury that listened to over 35 witnesses and reviewed 40 pieces of evidence. With his request for bond denied by Judge Bass, Crouch will remain incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail in Stafford County while his appeal is being considered. —Richard Leggett
The Nation’s Revolution began in Westmoreland County 248 years ago On Feb. 27, 1766, facing the onerous burden of the Stamp Act, Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee of Stratford Hall rallied 115 men from Westmoreland County and surrounding counties to Leedstown on the banks of the Rappahannock River to launch a protest that would become the foundation for the Declaration of Independence ten years later. The document they signed that day, the Leedstown Resolves, threatened
“danger and disgrace� to anyone who paid the stamp tax. The Leedstown Resolution was one of the first deliberate acts of sedition against King George III, and one that placed the Lees and the state of Virginia at the forefront of the coming revolution. On Feb. 27, 2014, the Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Society will host a commemoration of the 1766 Leedstown Resolutions at Menokin’s Martin Kirwan King Center in
Warsaw. The event will begin at 10 a.m. The guest speaker will be Bill Horn, an educator and historical authority. Horn will lead a discussion of about Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee. Richard Henry Lee was the author of the Leedstown Resolutions, and he and his brother, Francis Lightfoot Lee, were signers of both the Leedstown Resolves and the Declaration of Independence. In 1765, the British Parliament
had imposed a Stamp Act that required many materials in the American colonies to carry an embossed revenue stamp to offset expenses of the British troops stationed along the American frontier. Forceful and fiery patriots, Richard Henry Lee exhorted the concerned and apprehensive Virginia planters and farmers who showed up at Leedstown to stand up against the crown and its taxes. The actions tak-
UMW offers class credit to veterans & active duty military Veterans in King George and Westmoreland counties and active military personnel serving at the Naval Support Facility in Dahlgren will be able to get college credit for the skills they have acquired in the Service as a result of a new policy proposed by the University of Mary Washington (UMW). The UMW proposal, which is in response to legislation enacted by the Virginia General Assembly three years ago directing state colleges and universities to offer incentives to veterans and military personnel, will begin on July 1, pending approval by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. John Morello, UMW Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, said, “The Virginia
Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011 established a goal of conferring approximately 100,000 additional undergraduate degrees by 2025. One strategy for meeting this goal is to increase degree completion by non-traditional students, a category that often includes military-related students.� Morello said all UMW military-related students, including those at UMW’s Dahlgren campus, would receive the same benefits, regardless of where they take courses. The new proposal is likely to be very popular with personnel at the Dahlgren Navy Base and the many veterans in King George and Westmoreland. The new class credit proposal means UMW students
change bases or assignments. Those students can learn remotely, as long as those credit hours don’t exceed the transfer credit limit. Morello said he is hopeful the new proposal will increase the number of military-related students at UMW. Many who serve in the military took in-depth courses, such as computer programming, which would be relevant to their education at UMW. “ I do not know if other states are taking action of this sort,� Morello said.  “I do know that Governor McDonnell’s Executive Order 29 articulated a goal of making Virginia the nation’s most veteran-friendly state.� The new UMW proposal is a giant step in that direction. —Richard Leggett
can receive up to eight class credits, which is the most any student can count toward a UMW degree. Military-related personnel can also receive credit for military training courses, such as their occupational specialty, at a maximum of 30 credits. In addition to the new class credit proposal, UMW is also adopting new policies that will offer veterans and military personnel priority registration, allowing them to register for classes before regular course selection by other students. The University currently has a residency requirement, requiring a large portion of classwork must be done on campus. Morello said UMW is waiving that for military students, who may have to
en that day by Lee, his brother and the others, including four brothers of George Washington, are considered the beginning of America’s fight for freedom. An original signed copy of the Resolutions, written in Richard Henry Lee’s handwriting, is held at the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond, VA, and the text of the Resolutions is displayed on a marble plaque at the Westmoreland Court-
house in Montross. The Westmoreland County site of the signing of the resolutions, Leedstown, in 1766, was a busy Virginia port. There was a steady stream of vessels moving up and down the Rappahannock River, carrying goods and supplies to and from the colonies. Nearby, there was a ferry across the river connecting Westmoreland County to Essex County.  —Richard Leggett
Clinic launches effort to purchase a state-of-the-art X-Ray machine Dr Dean, Dr. Canizares and Theresa Gauvin RN of the Community Care clinic have launched a Fundraiser to purchase a DEL Medical RT100, a state of the art X-ray machine and fund ancillary services for an X-ray department. A donor is bearing 30% of the retail cost if the clinic can raise the remaining cost. Currently King George lacks x-ray services. Dr. Dean, Community Care Clinic Medical Director explained that “By having this caliber of equipment on site it allows us to immediately diagnose a fine line fracture or lung disease rather then sending a patient in pain 25 miles down the road, only to face more wait time. We would splint a fracture which in many cases allows the patient to make an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon as opposed to going to the ER and waiting.�
“With this machine we can easily splint and cast in our orthopedic room provided by ProHealth Services, LLC� added Theresa Gauvin, RN. Individuals who would like to donate may do so directly at the Community Care Clinic office at 11131 Journal Parkway, , the Community Bank of the Chesapeake in Dahlgren or the offices of The Journal. Donations to the purchase of the x-ray machine and other vital functions of the community clinic of even five dollars are greatly appreciated. The Community Care Clinic is a 501(c)(3) notfor-profit and all donations are tax-deductible. Next week The Journal will run a feature of all supporting businesses. Don’t miss your chance to provide a critical and very beneficial medical tool to our community!!
Classifieds HELP WANTED Part Time Office Cleaning Position; Monday through Friday 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm in Dahlgren. Must have clear results on background check with NO CRIMINAL record. Must be a U.S. Citizen. Must be 18 or older. Please contact B&B Maintenance of Maryland Inc. at 301769-2300, or preferably email application requests and questions to: bbmaint1972@gmail.com. 2/26p Rouse Farming, Inc. in Seven Springs, NC is hiring 6 temporary Farm workers from 03/24/201412/15/2014: 40 hrs/ week. Worker will plant, cultivate, and harvest tobacco by hand. Worker will plant tobacco plugs using tobacco transplanter
machine. Chops weeds between plants using hand tools such as hoes and shovels. Worker will top and sucker tobacco to remove tobacco flowers. Harvest workers may move along rows and break off ripe leaves of tobacco, place on trailer, and move in unison with the field vehicle. Workers are required to work in fields when tobacco leaves are wet with dew or rain. Workers may assist in removing tobacco from barn. Workers must have 1 month general farm work experience. The use or possession or being under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol during working time is prohibited. Workers may be requested to submit to a random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. May operate
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s Policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.� This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.
tractor. $9.87/hr. (prevailing wage). Guarantee of 3/4 of the workdays. All work tools, supplies, and equipment furnished without cost to the worker. Free housing is provided to workers who cannot reasonably return to their permanent residence at the end of the workday. Transportation and subsistence expenses to the worksite will be provided or paid by the employer, with payment to be made no later than completion of 50% of the work contract. Report or send resumes to Virginia Employment Commission, Employer Services, Rural Services Unit, 703 E. Main St., P.O. Box 1358, Richmond, VA 23218, (804) 786-6094. or your nearest State Workforce Agency, Reference Job Order #10254415. 2/26p Part Time Kennel Help in King George. Call (540) 775-3083. 2/26p Maintenance/Handy Man Contractor; Part Time position available for apartment complex in King George, VA. Experience required in plumbing, cleaning, painting, minor electrical and carpentry, customer service skills, multi-tasking and time management. Send resume or letter of interest to Maintenance 1620 Price Dr., Farmville, VA. 23901. 2/26b Fox Towne Adult Day Care Center is now hiring for part time RN’s, LPN’s
and Medical Technician also Volunteers are needed. Located conveniently on Rt. 3 in King George near the courthouse. To apply please call 540775-5502. unfb
$1,500.00 per month. 540-226-2047 or 804742-5416. 3/19p
BENEFIT/ Fundraiser
1989 Prowler 5th Wheel for sale. Fisherman’s getaway. 30 ft , new carpet, AC, elec awning. now at Monroe Bay Camp. $5000.00 Must be moved. No tanks.540-662-1537. 3/19p
CBVFDLA with have it’s first dinner of the new year on Saturday, March 8th from 5:00 - 7:00 at the fire dept. Ham & Cabbage. $8.00 adults & $4.00 for children under 12. 3/5
CLASSES CHANGE YOUR CAREER, CHANGE YOUR LIFE! Moseley Real Estate Licensing Courses MoseKITCHEN CABINETS COUNTER TOPS ley & Real Estate LicensingQuality Coursesbrand 03/17/2014name 0 3cabinets / 2 1 / 2 0 1&4 vanities (9-4; 04/21/201404/25/2014 at up to 45 Call % off List Price. (9-4); 540-424-8191 or visit www.exitrealtyexGuaranteed pertise.com forprices. more info. lowest Military Discounts for Ac804-333-1234 tive2721 Duty and MyCAA for RICHMOND RD • WARSAW VA Spouses. ufn
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APARTMENTSHOUSES, ROOMS FOR RENT/SALE BEAUTIFUL COUNT RY E S TAT E H O M E TO RENT; 5,000 sq. ft. furnished home on 20 acre manicured grounds, tennis courts and ground maintenance included. with/in minutes from Dahlgren, Fredericksburg and Tappahannock.
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AND SURPLUS KITCHEN CABINETS & COUNTER TOPS Quality brand name cabinets & vanities at up to 45 % off List Price.
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38%/,& 127,&( King George County Taxpayers who Qualify for the Real Estate Exemption For The Elderly And Disabled Persons program, MUST file an application with the Commissioner of Revenue on or before MARCH 1, 2014
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Barcarlounger/ recliner: Blue, white & coral pin stripes. Arms & head covers included. Very good condition. $65.00 cash only. Call (540) 775-7579 if interested. 2/26p
PETS/ FREE/ FOR SALE / ADOPTION Wendys Feline Friends. Cats and kittens for adoption. Many different colors and ages. All fixed with rabies shot. See
pics at westmoreland. petfinder.org. For more information call Wendy 804-224-1079 Animals Available For Adoption. The Animal Welfare League has dogs and cats available for adoption. For more information please call 804435-0822, 804-435-6320. Hours Monday, Wed., & Friday. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Lots of animals are at the shelter - call 804-4627175.
RACSB JOB FAIR Sat., March 1, 2014 10 am to 2 pm 600 Jackson Street, Fredericksburg
Full & Part-Time Positions available:
Day Support Aides, Counselors, & Specialists Group Home Managers & Assistant Managers Mental Health Case Manager • Mental Health/ REPLACEMENT Substance Abuse Therapist WINDOWS Nurse (LPN) LIFETIME• Residential Counselors • SpeechLanguage Pathologist • Van Drivers & more! WARRANTY
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King George County Business, Professional, Occupational Licenses MUST be filed with the Commissioner of the Revenue by March 3, 2014. Payment is due on or before June 30, 2014.
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING KING GEORGE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION The King George County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing beginning at 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday March 11, 2014, in the Robert H. Combs Board Room of the Revercomb Administration Building at 10459 Courthouse Drive, King George, Virginia. Case Number 13-01-T02: Amendment to King George County Zoning Ordinance to create Article 13 Stormwater Management which creates a local Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) to comply with the Virginia Stormwater Management Act (§ 62.1-44.15:24 et seq). Amendment includes: stormwater provisions for administration; grandfathering, exemptions; exceptions; definitions, review of stormwater management plans; stormwater prevention plan requirements; stormwater management plan requirements; pollution prevention plan requirements design standards; specifications and methods; technical criteria for regulated land disturbing activities; off-site compliance options; design storms and hydrologic methods; long term maintenance requirements; monitoring and inspection requirements; enforcement provisions; hearings and appeals provisions; and schedule of fees. Documents related to the above cases are available for public inspection during the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday in the Department of Community Development, King George County Revercomb Administration Building. The public is invited to attend the above scheduled hearings and to express their views on the above cases. Those who are unable to attend the public hearings may submit their comments in writing to the Director of Community Development, 10459 Courthouse Drive, Suite 104, King George, Virginia 22485, prior to the scheduled hearings.
By Order of the King George County Planning Commission