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

DATE: TUESDAY, April 24, 1990                   TAG: 9004240461
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From staff and wire reports
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short

BEDFORD JUDGE JUDGING PEER IN CASE OF ALTERED TRAFFIC TICKET

Bedford County Circuit Judge William W. Sweeney is presiding this week over the trial of another judge, who is accused of altering a prosecutor's traffic ticket.

Sweeney was assigned the case after the nine Norfolk circuit judges disqualified themselves because of their associations with General District Court Judge Joseph H. Campbell.

Campbell's trial opened Monday. He is accused of trying to disguise the prosecutor's identity on the ticket.

Campbell, 61, is charged with two counts of altering a public document and one count of malfeasance in office. If convicted, he could be sentenced to two to 10 years in prison on each forgery charge. The malfeasance charge carries a $1,000 fine or 12 months in jail.

Prosecutors claim that after a March 24, 1989, hearing in Campbell's chambers, the spelling of then-Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney Paul A. Sciortino's name was changed to Anthony Paul Schortinoe on a copy of a traffic summons and in the computer system of the Norfolk General District Court.

The changes effectively hid Sciortino's name from public view, prosecutors said.

Sciortino was running for re-election and had a history of traffic summonses and accidents. When the altered ticket came to light, Sciortino withdrew from the race.

Monday was spent picking a jury, with attorneys closely questioning potential jurors about publicity surrounding the case. The trial is expected to last three or four days.

by CNB