Showing posts with label Commonwealth's Attorney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Commonwealth's Attorney. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Come Out this Thursday Evening to Support Teresa Altemus

In a recent news publication much enthusiasm was directed at supporting Gloucester Point Supervisor Chris Hutson in his reelection efforts and the actions of the infamous Gloucester 40 and Gloucester’s former Commonwealth Attorney. The article also cast a negative cloud about Teresa Altemus who is seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for Supervisor of the Gloucester Point District; even though she and the other targeted Supervisors were cleared of all charges. In fact it was not Mrs. Altemus and the other targeted Supervisors who cost Gloucester County hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees. It was a group of people who were unhappy about the results of an election that were all associated with a single local civic organization that cost Gloucester County all of that money.
 
There was absolutely nothing in the article about Mrs. Altemus’ previous track record or her conservative and sensible views on issues that matter to the People of Gloucester County. There were no quotes from anyone supporting Mrs. Altemus. There were however, multiple quotes from members of the Gloucester 40 and from Mr. Hutson. In fact the article, in its own subtle way, tends to steer the reader away from Mrs. Altemus in favor of Mr. Hutson. What or who is the driving force behind Mr. Hutson having that privilege? It certainly cannot be a result of his track record as Supervisor for the Gloucester Point district.
 
Mr. Hutson’s track record includes failing to disclose his personal interest in property that would have been impacted by the Terrapin Cove sewer extension and voting to approve the project without disclosing the personal interest. When the appearance of conflict and Mr. Hutson’s failure to disclose his interest in the property was discovered, Mr. Hutson publicly claimed his wife did not tell him about the property. More recently he was heard claiming that his wife didn’t know about the property until the conflict appearance became public. Why the change of story at election time?
 
Mr. Hutson voted against lifting the boat tax and suggested taxing boats owned by already struggling commercial water-men. He voted against the recently adopted 2016 budget because real estate tax rates were not raised to 70 plus cents. He has stated that the only way the Board of Supervisors knows what the People and Citizens want is through comments made at Board of Supervisor meetings during citizen comment periods. What about emails to the Board or to ones district representative, or phone calls, letters and face to face communications? I can honestly say Mr. Hutson has never responded to a single email I have sent to him and I live in the Gloucester Point district.   
 
At the Republican Party Mass Meeting being held at Achilles Elementary School this Thursday evening; Gloucester Point residents will vote to determine which of these individuals will receive the Republican nomination to run for the position of the Party's representative on the Board of Supervisors. Those wishing to participate must register between 5:30 and 6:45 P.M.and bring with them a picture ID (as is required for elections in Virginia). Please come and vote for Teresa Altemus for Gloucester Point Supervisor.
 
Kenneth E. Hogge, Sr.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Governor McDonnell Appoints Three Circuit Court Judges

Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced three judicial appointments to fill vacant circuit court positions that were not filled during the 2013 General Assembly session. Robert R. Sandwich, Jr., will fill the 5th Judicial Circuit, Stephen E. Sincavage will serve in the 20th Judicial Circuit, and Charles L. Ricketts, III, will serve in the 25th Judicial Circuit. According to Article VI, Section 7 of the Constitution of Virginia, these individuals will “serve until thirty days after the commencement of the next session of the General Assembly.” Continued service on the Circuit Court will require election by the General Assembly.

            Speaking about the appointments, Governor McDonnell said, “I am pleased to appoint these highly qualified individuals to the Circuit Court. Judge Ricketts has served with distinction on the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court for the last eight years, and both Sandwich and Sincavage have served their communities with distinction as prosecutors for many years.  All three are talented lawyers who will continue to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth well in these new roles.  They were selected from a pool of highly qualified candidates, whom I thank for an interest in serving the Commonwealth.  I am confident that all three of them will perform commendably in this new role, and it is with great pleasure that I appoint them to the Circuit Court.”

Judge for the 5th Judicial Circuit- Robert R. Sandwich, Jr.

Robert R. Sandwich, Jr., currently serves as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Suffolk and has served in a similar role for the City of Virginia Beach, the City of Norfolk, the City of Portsmouth, and also in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit in Columbus, Georgia.  He has worked in private practice in the Hampton Roads and Richmond areas, handling a wide array of criminal and civil matters.  A Navy veteran, Sandwich resides in Suffolk with his wife.

Judge for the 20th Judicial Circuit- Stephen E. Sincavage

Stephen E. Sincavage has served as a prosecutor in the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office for Loudoun County for the last sixteen years, the last five as Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney.  He previously served as a Law Clerk to two circuit judges in the 20th Judicial Circuit. A native of Northern Virginia, Sincavage resides in Ashburn with his wife and daughter.

Judge for the 25th Judicial Circuit- Charles L. Ricketts, III

Charles L. Ricketts, III, was appointed to the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in the 25th Judicial District and subsequently elected by the Virginia General Assembly in 2006 and reelected in 2012.  For many years prior to taking the bench, he worked in private practice in Waynesboro, handling a variety of civil matters in state and federal courts.  He also served as the Mayor for the City of Waynesboro for eight years.  He and his wife reside in Waynesboro and have two grown children.
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Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Capt. George's owner appears in court Accused of holding illegal gambling operation



Updated: Tuesday, 02 Jul 2013, 12:54 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 01 Jul 2013, 7:35 PM EDT
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - His house of cards has collapsed, and now one of the area's most famous restaurant owners is fighting to stay out of prison.
Capt. George's Seafood Restaurant owner George Pitsilides maintains the game police broke up in April 2011 was legal. The Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney argues they were illegal games of chance. Pitsilides went to court, and WAVY.com was the only news outlet there.
Pitsilides' side wanted the charges dropped, but that did not happen. Towards the end of the year, a jury will decide whether Capt. George is on a sinking ship.
Pitsilides stood accused of operating a continuous gambling operation, specifically Texas Hold Em.
"We believe Texas Hold Em is a game of skill, and all of the experts we have submitted to the court will testify it is a game of skill," said Pitsilides' attorney James Broccoletti. 

The most compelling information came from Card Dealer Randal John. He dealt cards at the gambling house across the street from Capt. George's Seafood Restaurant. Pitsilides was often there along with his co- defendant Lisa Marie Crain, who was more of a server of food and drink. John said Virginia Beach Police would often show up too.
"They would come in and ask what was going on, and we'd say we're playing poker...no one ever stopped us, and no one ever said it was illegal," said John. 

Commonwealth's Attorney Harvey Bryant said, "We don't know who the officers were, but they gave us enough information to infiltrate the game with an undercover agent." 

Testimony suggests the poker games were friendly, and invite only.
"Everyone was friendly and everyone was friends," John added. Four to 12 players would sit around a table, and once you sat down, you were expected to stay at least three or four hours. Pitsilides and Crain would take the money, put it in a metal box, and put it in a back room or the attic until it was time to go home. 

Crain's attorney brought up the Virginia Beach Fraternal Order of Police held similar games, but were told by Bryant to close down the games and no one was ever charged.
"No charges were ever filed or taken out with regard to the Fraternal Order of Police, and they were given the opportunity to shut down their game, and no one was ever charged," said Adrianne Bennett. "I think these folks are being targeted because they are individuals who are successful financially. So, I guess it makes it a more interesting story, I suppose." 

Commonwealth's Attorney Harvey Bryant said the FOP case was different.
"The FOP was leasing space to another organization who put on the games. It was not continuous...Pitsilides has prior convictions, and knew what was going on in his gambling operation," Bryant said.
Pitsilide's side argued the State Codes are vague, especially in defining what is an illegal game of chance and a legal game of skill.
"Therefore, if it is a game of skill, it is not gambling. If it's not gambling, it is not illegal. If it is not illegal, there is no crime," Broccoletti said. 

The Commonwealth argued in the game, what ends up in your hand is completely chance, and if you need an ace and you have a two, no skill is going to change that.
"But are you holding an Ace or a two? That is the crux. You don't know what I have, and therefore betting is an aspect of skill, folding is an aspect of skill, preserving your hand is an aspect of skill," Broccoletti countered. 

Broccoletti will tell a jury the General Assembly laws are poorly drafted and vague, and the laws defining games of chance and games of skill can change from one Hampton Roads city to another. 

Broccoletti also said any money that card dealers took from the table during big chip hands was to pay for food, drink, and other expenses in putting on the games. Broccoletti said at no time did the "House" ever keep any money.
Commonwealth's Attorney Harvey Bryant said the only people who say poker is a game purely of skill are the ones who want to legalize illegal games.


Are you guilty of smoking pot if you do not inhale?  Are you guilty of drinking booze if you do not swallow it?  Are you guilty of drug possession if you do not use or distribute drugs but have them on your person?  If you are betting money on a game, you are gambling.  
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Trooper indicted in invasion of privacy

English: Image is similar, if not identical, t...
English: Image is similar, if not identical, to the Virginia State Police patch. Made with Photoshop. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Updated: Tuesday, 02 Jul 2013, 5:36 AM EDT
Published : Monday, 01 Jul 2013, 9:06 PM EDT

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Trooper Crystal G. Ramsey, 31, was indicted in Virginia Beach Monday for one felony count of computer invasion of privacy - sell/distribute information and eight misdemeanor counts of computer invasion of privacy - examine without authority, according to Corinne Geller with the Virginia State Police.
VSP began investigating Ramsey in May after an allegation she was using the Virginia Criminal Information Network improperly. The investigation was in cooperation with the City of Virginia Beach Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney.
Ramsey was a trooper on patrol in Virginia Beach and Norfolk since she started working with the VSP in 2004.
Ramsey had been on paid leave since May, but was put on unpaid leave last Wednesday when she was arrested without incident. Her status with the department is pending final adjudication of her charges.



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