ROANOKE TIMES 

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

DATE: SUNDAY, June 3, 1990                   TAG: 9006030061
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: YORKTOWN                                LENGTH: Medium

FAMILY FACES FINES

A York County family accused by their neighbors of drinking and driving, threatening neighbors and defecating and urinating on public streets could be fined $5,000 if they are found guilty.

In an unusual case, a grand jury agreed with Jim Schultz and 27 other residents of the middle-class neighborhood that the goings-on at 127 West Semple Road constitute a public nuisance.

The grand jury found reason to believe that the residents of the house, Elmore and Sheila Ford, have conducted themselves in a "lewd, vulgar, obscene and drunken" manner, including defecating in the street, threatening neighbors, drinking and driving and serving alcohol to minors."

The special jury's six-count complaint was served Thursday on the Fords, who now face a June 8 hearing in Circuit Court. At the hearing, they will be advised of the charges against them and their right to counsel. A trial date will be set after that, said Commonwealth's Attorney James Smith.

If found guilty, the Fords could be fined up to $5,000 and given a court order to correct the problems neighbors have cited, Smith said. If such an order is violated, another proceeding could be instituted that might lead to the property being seized by the court and sold at auction, he said.

Smith said that in his 20 years of law practice in the area, this is the first time he can recall a special grand jury being used to declare a residence a nuisance.

"It's kind of an extraordinary situation, so that's why we're dealing with it with extraordinary means," Smith said.

Sheila Ford said, "I think this is personal. It shouldn't be publicized. Tell people to mind their own business instead of other people's and they'll be better off."

Smith said the Fords live in the house with their two grown children, Donna and Dave, and runaway youths. Police have arrested residents of the house for assault and serving alcohol to minors, among other charges. 


 by CNB