*Judge rules Thomson trial will open as scheduled Monday

By Sally Voth -- svoth@nvdaily.com

HARRISONBURG -- A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that prominent Winchester defense attorney Paul Hampton Thomson's criminal trial is to begin as scheduled on Monday.

Chief Judge James P. Jones on Friday dismissed a motion to continue the trial filed by Thomson's attorney, John P. Flannery II, according to online court records.

A five-day trial has been scheduled for Thomson, a former Winchester commonwealth's attorney who finds himself facing charges of cocaine possession and multiple counts of witness and evidence tampering.

Jones also on Friday quashed subpoenas for Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeb Terrien and Assistant Public Defender Fred Heblich sought by Flannery, according to court records.

For further developments, visit nvdaily.com or read the print edition of The Northern Virginia Daily.