Former fireman held on charges

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Third-party warrant's allegations of rape prompt investigation

By Sally Voth -- svoth@nvdaily.com

NEW MARKET -- A former volunteer firefighter finds himself behind bars on sex charges.

Steve Allen Cubbage, 43, of 173 Jimmy's Drive, Stanley, was picked up Tuesday by the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office on third-party warrants, Sgt. Felicia Glick said Thursday afternoon.

She said Cubbage is being held without bond in the Rockingham County Jail on charges of rape, object sexual penetration and unlawful filming.

Cubbage has served as a volunteer firefighter for New Market Volunteer Fire Company and as a part-time firefighter with the Virginia Department of Forestry in the past.

Because the alleged victim obtained the warrants herself, very little case information was available, Glick said.

"We have an open case in this matter," she said. "For whatever reason she chose to go to the magistrate and the magistrate chose to write warrants in this case before it was investigated."

Rockingham County Commonwealth's Attorney Marsha Garst said Friday the case is being investigated by the Sheriff's Office and her office.

Until about a month ago, Cubbage was a member of the New Market Volunteer Fire Department.

"He was not coming around, he didn't participate in training, he didn't participate in meetings, so we took him off the roll last month," Chief Matt Hughes said.

He said Cubbage had volunteered with the company for three to five years.

"He didn't come around much, but when he did come around, he would participate in what was going on at the time," Hughes said. "He never showed his face around much around New Market. I don't know why."

Although Cubbage has a Page County address now, he was living on the western side of the mountain when he signed on with the department, Hughes said.

"He moved back and forth," Hughes said. "We just got to the point ... if you don't do your part, there's no room for you because everybody's got to do their part in the fire department. I'm glad to say we got rid of him before this happened, too. That would be just more bad publicity for us, even though [the charges] had nothing to do with the fire department."

The New Market Fire Department was left reeling after an investigation last year turned up evidence of fraud and mishandling of money. Since then, the department elected new leadership, and state police have said no current members are suspected of wrongdoing, Shenandoah County District 1 Supervisor Dick Neese said recently.

More recently, two former volunteers were charged with multiple counts of arson from when they were still volunteers. One has already pleaded guilty in Shenandoah County Circuit Court.

New Market Councilman Gary Comer, chairman of the public safety committee, said he knows Cubbage's "whole family."

"I knew him when he was small," he said. "I'm sad to hear this. I really am. This is the first I've heard of it."

Virginia Department of Forestry area forester Joe Lehnen said that Cubbage had worked for the department as a part-time firefighter in Page County, but didn't meet the requirements this year -- he failed to take an annual physical fitness test and a training class.

He described Cubbage as an "occasional employee," maybe called out on a big fire once or twice a year.