Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 12, 1993 TAG: 9308120327
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By Laurence Hammack staff writer
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge B. Ferguson sent a malice wounding charge against Jerry A. Jones to a grand jury, according to Assistant Commonwealth's attorney Wanda DeWease.
Jones, 30, is accused of using a knife to cut Russell Woodring, 8, and Russell's mother, Kathleen, at the Crossroads Mall Kmart on July 13.
Prosecutors say the incident is similar to two others in which Jones - who has a history of mental illness _ allegedly attacked randomly selected victims who happened to cross his path.
At Friday's hearing, the Woodrings testified they were shopping in the handbag section of Kmart about 1 p.m. when Jones walked up and cut Russell Woodring on the neck as he stood a few feet away from his mother.
Kathleen Woodring said she was then cut on the chin as she tried to chase Jones away. Both Woodrings were treated and released from a hospital that day.
After Ferguson heard the case involving the 8-year-old in juvenile court, Jones waived a similar hearing in General District Court on a second malicious wounding charge involving the mother.
Assistant Public Defender Jackie Talevi said she has not requested a psychiatric evaluation for Jones, although that remains a possibility.
Jones was found not guilty by reason of insanity in a 1983 shooting in which he allegedly wounded a man after thinking he heard voices that made him believe his life was in danger.
He was released after spending about five years in a mental hospital.
Late last year, he was arrested for allegedly punching a 16-year-old girl as she waited for her school bus. A hearing on a charge of malicious wounding in that incident had been scheduled for this month but was postponed.
Since being arrested in connection with the attack at Kmart, Jones has been held without bond.
by CNB