VIRGINIA BRIEFING

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

FAIRFAX COUNTY

Killer Eligible for Death Penalty, Jury Decides

Federal jurors yesterday found a convicted killer eligible for the death penalty in the 1993 murder of Barbara E. White, a 19-year-old single mother who was stabbed 82 times in her bathtub while her infant daughter was nearby in their Fairfax County apartment.

Jurors in U.S. District Court in Alexandria will reconvene today to begin hearing the prosecution's case that Thomas M. Hager, 34, should be executed, as well as the defense's appeals to spare his life. Last week, the jury convicted Hager of one count of murder while engaging in drug trafficking.

White was repeatedly stabbed with her kitchen knives while her 13-month-old daughter, Alexis, was in another room. She was left alone in the apartment for about 18 hours. She is now a high school freshman.

-- Jerry Markon

LOUDOUN COUNTY

Leesburg Lawyer Challenges Incumbent

John P. Flannery, a Leesburg lawyer and former chairman of the Loudoun County Democratic Committee, announced yesterday his write-in candidacy to challenge the reelection of Commonwealth's Attorney James E. Plowman (R).

Flannery said he decided to run last week after a judge dismissed charges against a former state Senate candidate accused of falsifying his campaign finance statements. Mark D. Tate was indicted by a grand jury three weeks before the June Republican primary.

Plowman initiated the investigation into Tate, even though he had endorsed Tate's opponent in the primary, Jill Holtzman Vogel. Plowman later turned the case over to a special prosecutor.

"How can you possibly wait until three weeks before an election and allow somebody to be indicted, especially when that office's chief enforcement officer is supporting the opponent?" Flannery asked.

Plowman, who had been unopposed in the Nov. 6 election, would not comment.

-- Sandhya Somashekhar

DOMINION POWER LINE

Lobbying Groups Form on Both Sides of Issue

Two new groups have formed to push their views on a high-voltage power line planned in Northern Virginia -- one for the controversial proposal and one against it.

The Coalition for Reliable Energy, which includes several chambers of commerce, said yesterday that Dominion Virginia Power's proposal would help ensure an adequate power supply for businesses. Dominion will provide the group with guidance and some funding, said William D. Lecos, president of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce.

Virginia's Commitment, based in Shenandoah County, emerged as an opponent of the 65-mile power line. The group said the proposal would hurt property values and encourage air pollution.

-- Sandhya Somashekhar

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY

Lake Ridge Girl Hit by Truck Dies of Injuries

A 12-year-old Lake Ridge girl who was hit by a pickup truck while walking along a Woodbridge road last week died over the weekend, Prince William County police said yesterday.

Jewell Hardin had been on the shoulder of Old Bridge Road, heading with the flow of traffic, when a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado hit her about 3:35 p.m. Tuesday, police said. Freddy Herrera, 44, of Dale City was driving in the right lane when he veered off the road, police said.

Herrera is due in court Dec. 12 to face a charge of reckless driving.

-- Theresa Vargas

DULLES AIRPORT

Suspicious Bag Forces Hour-Long Evacuation

Ticketing areas at Washington Dulles International Airport were evacuated and passenger screening was halted for about an hour yesterday after a suspicious piece of luggage was found at a checkpoint, officials said.

Virginia State Police examined the bag and found that it did not contain any dangerous materials, said Mark Treadaway, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

Flights were allowed to land while the bag was searched, but some departures were delayed as screening checkpoints were closed, officials said. Hundreds of passengers and employees were ordered to leave the terminal. The bag was found by federal Transportation Security Administration officials about 3:15 p.m., Treadaway said, and the security alert ended about 4:15 p.m.

-- Bill Brubaker