Local Man Convicted of Rape,
Aggravated Sexual Battery
<bt>After a two-day jury trial last week, a Centreville man was convicted of rape and aggravated sexual battery. He is Bruce Eugene Landrum, 42, of 5561 Rockpointe Drive.
Fairfax County police arrested him June 10, after a niece told police that, on many occasions, several years ago in his home, he sexually assaulted her when she was then 12 years old. The grand jury later indicted him, and he stood trial, Jan. 15-16, in Circuit Court before Judge Kathleen MacKay. The jury began deliberations on Jan. 16 and returned with verdicts of guilty on both charges.
Rape is punishable by five years to life in prison, and aggravated sexual battery carries a penalty of one to 20 years behind bars. Landrum is to be sentenced on March 7.
<sh>Computer Solicitation to Grand Jury
<bt>The computer-solicitation case against a New Jersey man has been sent to the grand jury. If convicted, John Benjamin Desper, 33, of 38 Franklin St., Swedesboro Township, N.J., could receive as much as 10 years in prison.
Fairfax County police arrested him following a sting operation by a detective. Police say Desper allegedly used a computer to solicit someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl for sexual activities. According to police, Desper and the girl were reportedly supposed to meet each other in Centreville.
Employed as a systems manager for Gloucester County Communications, Desper was arrested June 28 in New Jersey and was transported July 2, to Fairfax County's Adult Detention Center.
Police charged him with using a communications system to solicit a minor for certain offenses. His case came before General District Court Judge Mark Simmons last Wednesday, Jan. 15, and Simmons certified it to the grand jury for possible indictment.
<sh>Fire Dept. Seeks Information
<bt>Fairfax County Crime Solvers and the county Fire Marshal's Office is asking the public's assistance in identifying whoever is responsible for throwing Molotov Cocktails at the rear of a townhouse complex. Firefighters from Centreville's Station 17 responded Jan. 12, around 11:30 p.m. to 14069 Keepers Park, off Upperridge Drive in Centreville.
The deck outside that address was on fire, with the flames extending to the deck furniture and house siding. Firefighters immediately extinguished the fire, and fire department spokesman Mark Stone said the damage was minimal — "less than $1,000." The townhouses — near Supervisor Michael R. Frey's (R-Sully) office — are owned by the county Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and residents were home at the time.
Molotov Cocktails are crudely made devices containing flammable liquid which explodes upon impact. Stone said "multiple Molotov Cocktails' were found behind this particular townhouse and at least one had still not exploded. Anyone with information about this incident or those responsible for it is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-800-673-2777 or 703-691-8888.
A $1,000 cash reward will be paid for information leading to an arrest and indictment. Callers may remain anonymous; or e-mail crimesolvers@fairfaxcounty.gov. "It's an ongoing investigation," said Stone on Wednesday. "It could be prank-related, as well as criminal-related."
<sh>Mature Drivers Improvement
<bt>The Fair Oaks District Police Station is offering a Mature Operator's Driver Improvement Program for residents 55 and older.
Upon completion, drivers are eligible for Virginia's state-mandated, insurance-premium reduction.
The next course is Saturday, Jan. 25, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., in Supervisor Michael R. Frey's (R-Sully) conference room in the Fort Hill Building, 5900 Centreville Road in Centreville. Registration is required; call auxiliary officer Mike Szedlock at 703-280-0621. Fee is $10 per person for books and materials.
<sh>CCF Meeting Jan. 28
<bt>The Centreville Day committee of the Centreville Community Foundation (CCF) will meet Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. in Supervisor Michael R. Frey's (R-Sully) conference room. It's in the Fort Hill Building at 5900 Centreville Road in Centreville. Call Sandy Shapiro at 703-266-3653.
<sh>Doing Business With Homeland Security
<bt>Area government contractors that want to do business with the new Department of Homeland Security will learn important information about changes in the department's acquisition authority at the upcoming Government Contractors Coalition's Insider's Lunch. It's Wednesday, Jan. 29, noon-1 p.m., at the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, Commonwealth Room, 8230 Old Courthouse Road, Suite 350, Vienna.
Panelists include Alan Chvotkin, senior vice-president and counsel, Professional Services Council; and Tony Washington, deputy chief counsel for procurement, Transportation Security Administration. Insider's Lunch programs are open to Chamber members only. Cost is $35 early bird, $45 regular price, $50 day of event. To register, visit www.fccc.org, or call 703-749-0400.
<sh>Park Authority to Meet
<bt>The next meeting of the Fairfax County Park Authority will be Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 p.m. in the Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 900 in Fairfax. Among other things, the Park Authority is to consider approval of its master plan for Quinn Farm Park in Centreville.
It proposes building nine, lighted soccer fields there. As part of this project, Old Lee Road is to be realigned with Braddock Road through the site, and a new entrance road will come off of Braddock. The public may attend the meeting, but no further comments on this proposal will be received. Call Judy Pedersen at 703-324-8662.
<sh>Carwash, Jiffy Lube OK'd
<bt>A proposed new carwash and Jiffy Lube in Centreville have gotten an OK from the Fairfax County Planning Commission. The businesses hope to open up together on the south side of Route 29, just west of the Pickwick Square Shopping Center. They'd go between the existing Exxon station and the shopping center.
Both businesses would be open Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. If the joint project is approved, the existing Jiffy Lube, just east of the site, along Route 29, would close. But the plan needs the county's blessing to rezone the site from residential to commercial, plus a special-exception permit for vehicle light service. The Planning Commission gave a thumbs-up on Jan. 8; next stop is the Board of Supervisors.
<sh>CYA's Lighted Fields Approved
<bt>The Fairfax County Planning Commission has approved the Chantilly Youth Association's (CYA) plan to install lights at two of its fields. They're on 10 acres belonging to the Chantilly Regional Library and are to be state-of-the-art to minimize any impact on the nearby community. The county Park Authority will automatically turn off the lights, Monday-Saturday, at 10 p.m. The CYA still needs to receive final approval from the Board of Supervisors.
<sh>Modular Buildings Contract Awarded
<bt>The Fairfax County School Board recently awarded a contract for the construction of modular classrooms at London Towne and Oak Hill elementaries. Milestone Construction Services Inc. submitted the winning bid of $5,831,000.
<sh>Help Name Rec Center
<bt>Groundbreaking for the west county recreation center is slated for early March. The $18.5 million facility will be just north of Westfield High, bounded by Stonecroft Boulevard and Cub Run. The 94,000-square-foot rec center is anticipated to open in July 2004 but, before then, it needs a name. Residents may send suggestions to Sully@fairfaxcounty.gov. So far, the two main candidates are West County Recreation Center and Cub Run Recreation Center.
<sh>WFCM Clothes Closet is Now Open Wednesday Evenings
<bt>The Western Fairfax Christian Ministries' (WFCM) Shepherd Center clothes closet is now open Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. It's in the Sully Plaza Shopping Center at 13924 Metrotech Drive in Chantilly (between Fashion Bug and Payless Shoes).
The clothing is in good condition, and prices range from 25 cents for children's socks to $5 for a suit. Donation days for the clothes closet are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Clothing and small household items are accepted. Large household items may be donated to Pender United Methodist Church's furniture ministry at 703-352-7679.
WFCM also extends its thanks to the local community for its swift and generous response to WFCM's plea for food at Christmastime to help feed local needy families. As a result, WFCM was able to serve the more-than 100 extra families for which the organization hadn't originally planned.
<sh>Library Copies of Virginia Tax Forms
<bt>Due to Virginia's budget cuts, the Fairfax County Public Library and other Virginia public libraries will no longer have free copies of Virginia income tax forms. Virginia tax forms are available online; check the Library's Web site at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library for links to IRS and Virginia tax forms. Library users can make copies of Virginia tax forms on library copy machines, or print out the tax forms from the Internet on library PCs, for 15 cents per page.