VIRGINIA BRIEFING

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

METRO

Aboveground Route to Dulles Gets Federal Approval

The Federal Transit Administration approved yesterday Virginia's plan to bring Metrorail to Dulles International Airport, allowing the state to enter final negotiations with contractors to start construction late next year.

The $4 billion project will extend Metro 23 miles from West Falls Church to Dulles and Loudoun County, with the line scheduled to reach Wiehle Avenue in Reston by 2012 and the airport by 2015. Funding will come from the federal government, taxes paid by landowners along the line and Dulles Toll Road revenue.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) decided in September to stick with plans to run the line mostly aboveground, citing cost and scheduling concerns as he rejected a proposal for a rail tunnel through Tysons Corner. Some Fairfax County businesses and residents continue to push for a tunnel, but the FTA action was another sign that the project's state and federal overseers intend to move forward with an elevated track.

-- Alec MacGillis

LOUDOUN COUNTY

Father Convicted of Raping Daughter Over 5-Year Period

A Loudoun County jury recommended yesterday a 362-year prison sentence for a 51-year-old Sterling man convicted of repeatedly raping his daughter.

The man, who is not being named to protect his daughter's identity, was charged in May with eight counts of rape and two counts of indecent liberties with a minor.

According to court testimony, the man molested his daughter in their Sterling home over a five-year period starting when she was 12. Prosecutors said he admitted, in a taped telephone conversation, to having molested his daughter.

The jury deliberated for nearly four hours before returning with a guilty verdict and sentence. A judge is expected to formally sentence the man next month and can lower, but not increase, the prison time.

-- Candace Rondeaux

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY

Two Plead Guilty to Fraud In Immigration Case

Two men have pleaded guilty in connection with a fraud ring, based in Prince William County, that provided immigrants with more than 100 counterfeit documents, federal prosecutors said yesterday.

Mario Peralta-Alatorre entered his plea yesterday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria to conspiracy to commit immigration document fraud. His co-conspirator, Adrian Sandoval-Perez, pleaded guilty last week. Both face up to five years in prison.

Prosecutors said the two men solicited business in parking lots in Prince William, and the counterfeit documents were produced at a house in Woodbridge. The documents included Social Security cards, resident alien cards and state identification documents.

-- Jerry Markon

HERNDON

Hit-and-Run Victim Dies After Trying to Cross Parkway

A Herndon man was struck and killed by an unknown vehicle yesterday morning on the Herndon Parkway. Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Joseph A. Passarelli, 53, was walking his dog about 5:50 a.m., Herndon Lt. Donald W. Amos said. He was hit as he tried to cross the parkway near Ferndale Avenue. Another driver found Passarelli lying in the road, Amos said. The dog was found later, unhurt.

Passarelli was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he died shortly after 2 p.m., Amos said.

Police closed a section of the parkway yesterday morning to investigate. Amos said there were no known witnesses and no leads on the type of vehicle involved. Herndon police plan to return to the parkway today in hopes of finding a witness. Anyone with information is asked to call Herndon police at 703-435-6846.

-- Tom Jackman

FALLS CHURCH

Acting Police Chief Named From Within the Force

A veteran Falls Church police captain was named yesterday as acting chief to replace retiring Chief Robert T. Murray.

The new acting chief, Harry W. Reitze, 58, joined the force in July 1975 and became a captain in 1998. City officials said he has overseen criminal investigations, communications and records units. Before joining the department, which has about 32 members, he worked for the FBI, city officials said.

Murray, 59, announced his retirement last week, effective Dec. 1. Falls Church expects to launch a search soon for a permanent chief.

-- Tom Jackman