Fatal plane crash lawsuit settled, investigation ends

A $60 million lawsuit linked to a helicopter-airplane collision in which an Edinburg man died has been settled.

Excessive force cited as reason for officer's dismissal

Former Strasburg police officer Aaron H. Lewis lost his job over accusations that he used excessive force against a suspect in a drug case, falsification of records and violation of safety rules without a threat to life, according to documents in Shenandoah County Circuit Court.

Couple's immigrant dreams dissolve in courtroom

Martha Elena Gomez Torres and Carlos Alberto Morales-Luis spent more than decade trying to build decent lives for themselves and their three children in the United States, but the efforts all but ended Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg.

Authorities accuse Luray man in 7-Eleven robbery

A Luray man faces eight felony counts, including armed robbery and assault and battery against a law enforcement officer, stemming from two sets of crimes committed in Warren County in August 2011 and November 2012.

Sanitation authority, mining company settle suit

Carmeuse Lime and Stone and the Frederick County Sanitation Authority have settled their federal suit.

Family of teacher who died in accident settles lawsuit

Opposing lawyers settled the last phase of a lawsuit Tuesday filed by the family members of a middle school teacher who died in a fatal two-vehicle accident on Jubal Early Drive in Winchester on July 12.

Volunteer firefighter accused of theft, misuse of credit card

A volunteer firefighter with Warren County Fire and Rescue Services has been charged in General District Court with fraud and theft in a case involving gasoline purchases for his own car that authorities say he paid for with a department credit card.

Drug arrests may be fueling surge in jail population

Overcrowding at the Warren County Jail has Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron scrambling to find neighboring jurisdictions willing to house some of the inmates.

Authorities deem defendant too unruly for court appearance

Clyde Eugene Burrell Jr., charged with attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer and several related offenses, was involved in another confrontation with police Tuesday, according to his attorney and Warren County Circuit Judge Dennis L. Hupp.

7-Eleven robbery charges upheld at preliminary hearing

A case involving a man accused in the robbery of a 7-Eleven store in Front Royal almost two years ago is set to be presented to a grand jury after a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Family of slain Stephens City man plans suit against Martinsburg

Martinsburg city officials have been served notice by the family of Wayne Jones, the Stephens City man slain by Martinsburg police on March 13, that they intend to sue for $250 million.

PCP, crack ring leader sentenced to 35 years

PCP, crack cocaine, marijuana and other drugs flowed with regularity for 10 years from Barnett Southall Dillman Jr.'s parents' home in Bladensburg, Md., south to Front Royal.

Gun stockpile leads to another sentence for felon

A man whose arrest on a firearms charge led Front Royal police to call in the Army for help in searching his home was sentenced Tuesday in Warren County Circuit Court to a mandatory five years in prison.

Three sentenced for roles in Winchester crack dealing ring

A man described in court documents as the leader and enforcer of an extensive crack cocaine ring in Winchester was sentenced last week in U.S. District Court to life imprisonment.

Public defender reflects on 50th anniversary of landmark case

The effects of a U.S. Supreme Court decision issued 50 years ago on Monday that began with a poor drifter sentenced to five years in prison can still be seen everyday in area courtrooms.

Guardians suing Winchester school system over bullying

A Winchester couple is suing the city school system in U.S. District Court for $150,000.

Sgt. Courtney back on duty months after fight of his life

The streets of Front Royal look much the same to Sgt. Bryan Courtney after seven months away from his job as the police department's night shift supervisor.

Gun charge nixed: Judge rejects felony gun charge against Forest Service ranger

A U.S. Forest Service ranger facing three gun-related charges won a round in a preliminary hearing Monday when a judge refused to certify the sole felony offense to a grand jury.

Judge dismisses suit against lawyer in divorce case

A Winchester judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a local attorney against his former wife's divorce attorney.

Nurse suspended following arrest

The Virginia Board of Nursing has suspended the license of a nurse from Winchester.

Police say meth lab and bomb making going on at Strasburg home

An alleged King Street meth lab was shut down by town, state and federal officers Wednesday afternoon in Strasburg.

Judge grants DUI suspect more time to hire attorney

WINCHESTER -- The man accused of causing a June 26 crash that killed four members of a Stephenson family has more time to hire an attorney.

Big crowd turns out to release balloons in honor of crash victims

About 200 people came out to Clearbrook Park on Saturday to honor the four members of the Roe family who were killed on June 26 in an automobile crash.

No bond for fatal crash suspect

WINCHESTER -- The Frederick County man accused of driving drunk and causing a fiery crash that killed four members of a family Sunday must remain in jail, a judge ordered Wednesday.

Judge rebukes attorney

HARRISONBURG -- The judge presiding over prominent Winchester attorney Paul Hampton Thomson's federal case has rebuked his defense lawyer for "unprofessional conduct."

Kellam family says sentence 'unjust'

WINCHESTER -- The justice system failed Charceil D. Kellam and unjustly sent her to serve life plus 30 years in prison for minor drug crimes, according to the woman's supporters.

Woman indicted on sex abuse charges against 11-year-old boy

FRONT ROYAL --A local woman was indicted Monday on charges that she committed sexual acts with an 11-year-old boy in June.

Fingerprints sought in post office theft

WOODSTOCK -- Search warrants have been executed in the last two weeks to obtain fingerprints of three men in connection with the suspected theft of items from the Toms Brook Post Office in August, according to Shenandoah County Circuit Court records.

Man charged in stabbing amid dispute over drugs

NEW MARKET -- A resident of the Blue Ridge Inn is accused of stabbing a neighbor following a dispute regarding a drug transaction.

Couple avoids jail time after torching car

WOODSTOCK -- A New Market couple played with fire but didn't get burned by having to spend any time behind bars for doing so.

Washington man charged with abduction

WINCHESTER -- A Washington, D.C., man held his fiancee captive after assaulting her and another woman in Stephens City before fleeing to Warren County on Christmas Eve, authorities said Monday.

City man pleads guilty to federal conspiracy charge

HARRISONBURG -- A Winchester man recently convicted of running a check-fraud ring in the area in 2009 pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to a federal conspiracy charge, according to court documents.

Man, 22, guilty of larceny charges

FRONT ROYAL -- A White Post man who authorities said stole firearms from a relative's home in March, and later threatened to burn down the residence after he broke into it, must serve two months in jail after pleading guilty Tuesday morning to a larceny charge stemming from the incidents.

Man charged with incest had just served time

WOODSTOCK -- A Mt. Jackson man recently charged with incest was released from incarceration only about a month before the sex crimes are thought to have first surfaced, according to Shenandoah County Circuit Court records.

Town man nears plea agreement

FRONT ROYAL -- A plea agreement could be entered next month for a local man accused of committing or attempting numerous burglaries and stealing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry earlier this year.

City man charged after I-81 blowup

WINCHESTER -- State police charged a city man with three crimes Saturday afternoon after he got into a dispute in his car on Interstate 81, walked down the highway and assaulted a driver.

Sentencing in sex crime delayed

WOODSTOCK -- Sentencing is on hold for a Strasburg man who has admitted to sexually assaulting two girls under 10 years of age until a psychologist who prepared a sex offender report on him can testify.

More trouble for alleged bank robber

Loudoun County and Fairfax authorities have joined the Winchester Police Department in pressing charges against accused bank robber Benjamin Luzan Sebastian.

Defense says home search was illegal

WINCHESTER -- Authorities illegally searched the home of a man accused of killing his mother in February, according to the defendant's attorney.

Sentencing delayed for convicted bank robber

WOODSTOCK -- Sentencing for a convicted bank robber was delayed on Wednesday in Shenandoah County Circuit Court after questions were raised about sentencing guidelines and reports that he had again tried to harm himself.