Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 7, 1990                   TAG: 9004070441
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: KEVIN KITTREDGE SHENANDOAH BUREAU
DATELINE: WARM SPRINGS                                LENGTH: Short

BATH SHERIFF'S USE OF FUNDS INVESTIGATED

Bryan is alleged to have charged items to the county that he bought for his personal use, said Cecil Handy, special agent in charge of criminal investigations for the state police in Salem.

In addition, Handy said police are investigating allegations of a conflict of interest involving Bryan and his wife and son, both of whom have worked at the Sheriff's Department.

Bryan's son, James Bryan III, is employed at the Bath County Jail. His wife, Frances, was once employed as a corrections officer but no longer works for the Sheriff's Department, said Stuart Hall of the Bath County Board of Supervisors.

Handy declined to elaborate on the allegations or say where they had originated. Efforts to contact Bryan on Friday were not successful.

Handy said this week that the investigation has been under way for some 60 days and should be concluded soon. "I would say it shouldn't be too much longer," Handy said.

State police also are investigating allegations of wrongdoing at the Rockbridge Regional Jail, which is run by Sheriff F.M. "Freddie" Spence in neighboring Rockbridge County.

Bath County Commonwealth's Attorney R. Creigh Deeds declined to comment on the Bryan investigation Friday.

"To protect a person's privacy interests, and also to protect the interests of someone who may be innocent, it's just not a good idea to discuss the details of an investigation," Deeds said.