ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: TUESDAY, March 1, 1994                   TAG: 9403010124
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: KAREN BARNES
DATELINE: BEDFORD                                LENGTH: Short


INMATE MAY BE CHARGED IN 2ND ROBBERY

A Roanoke man already charged with robbery now faces indictment on similar charges in Bedford County in the New Year's Eve robbery of a mobile home near Goodview.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Joe Kuster said Issam Ahmad Ottallah is suspected of firing two shotgun blasts into the door of John Rhoton's mobile home and demanding money.

Rhoton and a guest complied, and Rosemary Booth handed over her rings, Kuster said.

The gunman then fired two shots into the ceiling and left with two men.

Ottallah, a former employee of the Pancake House on Williamson Road, is in the Roanoke City Jail awaiting trial on charges of holding up Dave's Market.

He faces three counts of robbery, one count of breaking and entering, three counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm to commit robbery and one count of unlawfully discharging a firearm. He could receive a sentence of up to 144 years, Kuster said.

The April grand jury will hear the case.



 by CNB