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

DATE: FRIDAY, February 22, 1991                   TAG: 9102220721
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

44 YEARS GIVEN IN WILLIAMSBURG SHOOTING

The youth who shot an Indiana couple during a summertime attempted robbery in Colonial Williamsburg's historic area was sentenced to 44 years' imprisonment.

Dennis Nelson was sentenced in Circuit Court Thursday for the crimes that rocked the historic tourist spot last July.

"I don't think it's right," said Pernel Nelson, the boy's father. "He didn't kill nobody. People who have killed people have got less time."

The sentence came after Dennis Nelson's attorney argued that the King William County youth should be sentenced for his crime, not for where it happened. And he said that under the state's non-binding guidelines, he would have faced up to 29 years and 10 months' imprisonment.

"This is a case that's gotten widespread publicity," but that shouldn't play a role in the sentence, defense attorney John Stephens told Judge Russell Carneal.

"Cases of this matter are never easy," said Carneal, who called it a horrendous crime no matter where it was committed.

Nelson, who was 16 at the time, was sentenced to two years for both counts of using a firearm during a robbery, 10 years for both counts of attempting to rob the couple, with five years suspended from each count, and 20 years for both counts of malicious wounding, with five years suspended from each - for a total of 44 years.

Commonwealth's Attorney George Fairbanks recommended 60 years of a possible 64 years.

"It's caused me a lot of sleepless nights thinking about this case," said Fairbanks. "They were tourists, guests in the restored area of Colonial Williamsburg, seeing people dressed up in Colonial outfits, completely laying their guard down. They will have to live with this for the rest of their lives," he said.

Anne and David Edds were shot in the face by Nelson, who pleaded guilty of the charges in December. A bullet remains lodged in the cheek of Anne Edds, who lost three teeth and has undergone extensive plastic surgery, said Fairbanks.

Chris Pryor, another youth who participated in the crime, was sentenced last month to 15 years in prison.

by CNB