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

DATE: SATURDAY, July 2, 1994                   TAG: 9407040108
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                 LENGTH: Short

RADFORD MAN FACES FORGERY CHARGES

A Radford man - now in jail in Fredericksburg for failing to make restitution for bad checks - faces felony charges in Radford and Blacksburg of obtaining merchandise by forgery or false pretenses last month from area building supply dealers.

Until earlier this week, Roger William Fishel Jr., 20, had been in the Radford City Jail in lieu of an $8,000 bond following his arrest last week at a Radford construction site. Fishel faces six forgery counts in Radford. Radford Police said the investigation continues.

He is charged with forging a person's name to obtain approximately $1,000 worth of building supplies from Central Lumber Co. on several occasions between June 4 and June 18.

Fishel was arraigned Monday in Radford District Court, and a public defender was appointed. Trial has been set for Aug. 29.

In Blacksburg, Fishel is charged with obtaining under false pretenses more than $1,000 worth of merchandise at Heavener Hardware between June 8 and June 18. The items were recovered, police said. The case is set for arraignment July 21 in Blacksburg General District Court.

Fishel has been employed by several area contractors, said Deputy Chief Jonny Butler of the Radford Police Department.

Fishel is now in the Rappahannock Security Center in Fredericksburg, where Spotsylvania County authorities had issued a warrant after he failed to appear in court to explain why he has not paid $447 to cover bad checks he wrote in 1992. Spotsylvania County deputies picked Fishel up at the Radford City Jail on Wednesday.

by CNB