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

DATE: FRIDAY, August 13, 1993                   TAG: 9308130174
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                 LENGTH: Short

STATE'S ATTORNEY TOLD TO RETURN GUNS LENT HIM

Commonwealth's Attorney Joseph D. Morrissey, who faces trials on five felony counts, borrowed a Tec-9 and Uzi from the state Division of Forensic Science and never returned the guns, a state official said.

Division officials tried several times to get Morrissey to return the semiautomatic weapons before turning to Circuit Judge Thomas N. Nance earlier this week, said Dr. Paul B. Ferrara, division director.

Morrissey borrowed the two semiautomatic weapons along with an assault rifle in May 1991. He used them as props in a series of presentations at civics meetings and schools on drugs and violence.

Morrissey has taken a leave of absence while awaiting the results of trials on charges of bribery, perjury and misuse of public funds. His trial on the bribery charges is scheduled to begin Monday. He has said he will resume his duties if acquitted of all charges. - Associated Press

Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.

by CNB