Former Richmond council man acquitted with "old syringes" defense

[underpants]

Chuck Chuck Chuck

Well I am glad he beat the rap. Richardson apparently got hooked when he was in Vietnam and was still addicted when I move here 10 years ago.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031778089946&path=!news&s=1045855934842

The evidence against former Richmond City Councilman Chuck Richardson yesterday was much as defense attorney Michael Morchower described it: old syringes, old residue hidden around the house by a recovering addict. It wasn't enough for a jury to convict Richardson of heroin possession. The panel deliberated less than an hour before acquitting him of the charge.

"I feel inspired to concentrate more conscientiously on my recovery and go home and do some more housecleaning, just in case," Richardson said after the jury returned its verdict

In 1995, his addiction cost him the council seat he had held for 18 years. He was convicted of heroin distribution and sentenced to a year in prison. His time in prison was extended to 22 months after he was held in contempt of court for refusing to disclose his suppliers.

Police searched Richardson's home on Blanton Avenue across the street from Byrd Park on April 8 after they received information that his son, Karl Richardson, was growing marijuana in the basement.

They found the marijuana, but in searching the rest of the house, they found three bundles with a total of 21 syringes. The first discovery was behind the access panel between the closet in Richardson's bedroom and the bathroom.

[livinginphotographs]

1. I saw that on the news last night.

I feel bad for the guy. It's pretty fucked up to treat these people as criminals for what is essentially a medical condition.

And as far as the marijuana, let me get that address again.... :evilgrin:

[underpants]

2. That was one of the first news stories I saw locally in '94

Chuck had gotten busted and wouldn't squeal on his supplier.

Other infamous City of Richmond ELECTED Richmond City Council members

Sa'ad El Amin- recently convicted of stealing clients money when acting as their lawyer/power of attorney. Didn't pay his mortgage for 8 months a few years back and blamed it on the Postal Service (BTW-W blamed his Harken SEC docs being filed 18 months late on the USPS too). El Amin was the "You better bring your stuff" guy on Kilborn's show a few years ago.

Gwen Hedgepath-A few years ago she went on a "hunger stirke" to get funding for a youth center, a good cause but......the "humger strike" only lasted for the day light hours and she often would have a soup and salad at lunch too. Recently convicted of accepting bribes and lying to the feds.

Councilman and mayor Rev. Leonidas B. Young plead guilty to four felony charges in Richmond's Federal District Court.

Mayor Larry Chavis' Circuit Court records revealed over $645,000.00 in tax liens.

Richmond City Manager assistant Robert Evans set up fictitious businesses and stole almost $1,000,000.00 in taxpayer provided funds.


And I can't remember her name but one Council member was caught in a city poice car with a police officer (both are married to other people) and she swore the were doing "official city business".......at 4 AM. She is off the council now.

[livinginphotographs]

4. Reva Trammel.

She was linked to the now-deceased police officer Doug Wendel.

I remember the hunger-strike. That was hilarious. And Sa'ad El-Amin (sp?) was and is a scumbag, so I was glad to see him go.

My mom lives in Virginia Beach, and the Richmond city council is such a circus, they even cover it on the news out there.

Hopefully Doug Wilder can come in and clean this shit up.

[underpants]

5. Right Trammel-St. Louis paper has a weekly segment

"This week in Richmond Va." in which they make fun of the whole operation (I was told this my a friend's former in-laws).

Sad.

My buddy who stayed on the Peninsula calls Richmond "The Whiners" we argue about statues and murals while in Norfolk they put up a monument to MLK and no one raises a fuss about it.

I loved Tim Kaine's underlying campaign motto "Hey I worked with THESE guys, I can do anything".

[livinginphotographs]

6. We made it to St. Louis?

God, how embarrassing.

[underpants]

7. It is a running joke there

or so I am told.

We really can't be more proud.

[livinginphotographs]

8. I remember back when we were #1 in per capita murder

in the entire US.

I think we'll still make it into the top five this year (fingers crossed). :eyes:

[underpants]

9. 1994-164 murders HEY! HALF were solved!!!

AS far as bank robberies go we HAVE to be #1.

[jukes]

3. in a fair world

he shd have been awarded a purple heart for his addiction; a combat injury. then he shd have been "sentenced" to rehab instead of crime-school.

imagine the junkies we're producing in afghanistan right now...