Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 28, 1991 TAG: 9103280423
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA LENGTH: Medium
"I don't think we were trying to send a message to all the people in public housing," said juror Tom Hickok. "We were just trying this particular case."
Hickok said the panel considered the defendant, Verna Harris, a "good citizen" who did all she could to keep her daughter out of the house and to cooperate with police.
In closing arguments Wednesday, an attorney representing the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority called Harris part of the community's drug problem. Michael Weiser accused Harris of "looking the other way" and allowing her daughter to engage in illegal drug activity.
The jury was the first to decide a drug-related eviction case under the housing authority's 2-year-old policy.
Defense attorney Paul A. Fiscella told the jury that the mother was not responsible for her daughter's actions, and had called police to report her daughter several times.
Fiscella said Harris kicked her daughter out of the apartment in 1989. He said Vanetta Harris, 30, has been to jail and was on probation.
Verna Harris, who has lived in Alexandria public housing for about 30 years, was asked to leave her three-bedroom apartment Aug. 24. The notice came six days after her daughter was arrested and charged with selling crack in front of the apartment.
Police investigators testified that the daughter had been seen the morning of Aug. 18 making three drug sales. The deals were observed by a police officer on a roof with binoculars.
Vanetta Harris appeared to have gone in and out of the apartment during the deals, police testified. Two crack pipes and other drug paraphernalia were found inside.
Vanetta Harris pleaded guilty to distributing crack cocaine and is serving a four-year prison sentence.
City housing officials sought to evict Verna Harris in part because the daughter's name was still on the lease. Verna Harris testified that her daughter did not live there and she had attempted to remove her from the lease.
The housing authority evicted 11 households under the drug policy last year, officials said.
by CNB