AP
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A prosecutor is dropping charges against a University of Virginia student whose bloody arrest sparked a public uproar and a state police investigation. Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney David Chapman said Thursday that he made the decision after reviewing results of a state police investigation into Martese Johnson’s arrest. But he said the findings do not warrant charges against the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control officers who arrested Johnson. The 20-year-old from Chicago was arrested outside a bar on March 18 and charged with public intoxication or swearing and obstruction of justice without force. The arrest gained widespread attention, with photos and videos on social media showing Johnson pinned to the ground, his face bloodied. Johnson, who is black, called the officers racist. Gov. Terry McAuliffe ordered the state police investigation.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia Democrats are trying to strike down the state’s voter ID law, joining efforts in two other swing states to challenge voting laws ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The Democratic Party of Virginia said it filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the State Board of Elections seeking to undo the state’s voter photo ID provision, saying the Republican-approved rules make it more difficult for Virginians to vote. Democratic Party attorneys recently filed legal challenges to voting changes made by GOP lawmakers in the presidential battleground states of Ohio and Wisconsin. One of the attorneys involved in all of the lawsuits is Marc Elias, a top elections lawyer who is also serving as the Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign’s general counsel. The campaign is not officially involved in the lawsuits.
Noah Thomas
PULASKI, Va. (AP) _ A Virginia woman whose 5-year-old son was found dead in a septic tank has been charged with felony murder. Pulaski County Sheriff Jim Davis confirmed Wednesday that Ashley White faces the charge in connection with the March death of Noah Terry Thomas. New River Valley Regional Jail records show that White appeared before a magistrate Wednesday and is being held without bond. Neither Davis nor the records revealed any details. White and the child’s father, Paul Thomas, already were facing felony child abuse and neglect charges. Paul Thomas also is being held without bond. The child’s March 22 disappearance prompted a nationwide search involving local and federal authorities. He was found in a septic tank on his parents’ rental property March 26.
Jesse Matthew, Jr.
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) _ Jesse Matthew has entered an Alford plea on charges that he attacked and molested a woman in Virginia in 2005, acknowledging that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him. Wednesday’s plea means Matthews maintains his innocence. It is a form of a guilty plea, but without an explicit admission of guilt. Matthew, 33, of Charlottesville, also is charged in a separate case with the abduction and killing last year of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham. His plea came after the prosecution rested its case with DNA evidence linking him to the September 2005 case in Fairfax. Defense lawyers tried unsuccessfully to get the judge to strike the case. Prosecutor Ray Morrogh said Matthew is entering the plea without any plea agreement with prosecutors. Matthew faces up to life in prison when sentenced Oct. 2.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia landowners are eligible for federal funds to help manage forests. The Virginia Department of Forestry says a total of $470,000 is available in the state. The first application deadline is July 8. A second round of applications will be accepted until July 22. State foresters will help eligible landowners develop a plan to manage their land for specific purposes, such as recreation or wildlife habitat.
Photo credit: http://www.martinsville-va.gov
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) _ Police say Martinsville Sheriff Steve Draper broke an ankle and injured a shoulder when his motorcycle hit a pothole. Martinsville sheriff’s Maj. Laura Hopkins tells media outlets that the accident occurred on Monday as Draper was doing a test run for a funeral procession. Hopkins says a piece of the motorcycle’s front fender came off and struck the front wheel, which locked up. The motorcycle then fell over on its right side. She says Draper was on duty at the time. Draper was scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Part of the mystery surrounding the three $1 million lottery tickets sold at a single Richmond-area store has been solved. The Virginia Lottery says one person holds the winning tickets. The rest of the mystery will be cleared up Wednesday when the winner’s identity is revealed. The lottery says the winner will pick up the $3 million prize at the agency’s main office in downtown Richmond. The tickets in the June 2 Mega Millions drawing her purchased at a store in Colonial Heights. The lottery says the odds of winning the $1 million prize are one in about 18.5 million.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ On day two of a European trade mission, Gov. Terry McAuliffe has snared nearly 1,200 jobs for Virginia. The economic development announced Tuesday from Cardiff, Wales, involves a $2 million investment by Elephant Auto Insurance to expand its U.S. headquarters in Henrico County and create 1,173 jobs. McAuliffe says the job-creation announcement followed a meeting with the Admiral Group, the United Kingdom parent of the insurer. While McAuliffe did not detail the type of jobs the investment will create, Elephant CEO Kevin Chidwick says the company’s workforce includes marketing and sales, call center operations and customer service, among other skills. Elephant Auto Insurance established its U.S. operations in Henrico County in 2009. The 11-day mission includes stops in Italy, Germany, Sweden, France and Belgium.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The Supreme Court of Virginia has temporarily blocked the planned closure of 114-year-old Sweet Briar College, a private school for women. The decision Tuesday sends the case back to a lower court, where leaders of the college will be questioned over their March announcement to shutter the school by the end of this summer. They cited insurmountable financial challenges and declining enrollment. But the local county attorney and a determined group of alumnae have battled the decision to close. They have questioned the dire predictions of President James F. Jones Jr. and the school’s governing board. Sweet Briar officials say the institute that operates the school is corporation and doesn’t need a court blessing to close. Opponents of the closing say the institute is a trust and subject to court review.
Jesse Matthew, Jr.
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) _ A woman who authorities say was attacked by the same man who killed college student Hannah Graham last year has told jurors how she struggled to fight off the man who tried to rape her nearly a decade ago. Jesse Matthew of Charlottesville is charged in Fairfax with attempted capital murder, abduction and sexual assault in connection with the 2005 attack on the woman, who was walking home from the supermarket. Matthew is charged in a separate case with Graham’s death. On Monday, the victim in the 2005 attack described being choked and grabbed just steps from her home. She escaped only when a bystander intervened. Prosecutor Ray Morrogh told jurors the woman “fought like the dickens” to fend off the attack and that DNA evidence links Matthew to the crime.