Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 23, 1995 TAG: 9507240011
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV17 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Short
The petition was filed in June by opponents of a private prison proposed for Wythe County. The opponents believe that Armentrout, who had endorsed the prison, violated state law by accepting airline tickets from Corrections Corporation of America, which hopes to get state approval to build the facility near Wytheville. The tickets were from CCA's headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., to Cleveland, Texas, and back. Prison opponents said the tickets could be construed as gifts.
County Attorney Frank Slavin and Big Stone Gap attorney Henry Kueling-Stout say their motion for dismissal has merit and that the same kind of petition against another supervisor was dismissed in March.
Opponents of the prison had also circulated petitions in Charles Dix's Black Lick District to force him to show cause why he should not be removed from office. Dix also took the plane trip to see CCA's operation.
Circuit Judge Willis Woods said he found no evidence that Dix misused his office by making the trip and dismissed the case in March.
Dix and Armentrout returned from their Texas trip with positive comments on CCA's operation from a cross-section of civic leaders in the town, and joined with the majority in voting 4-3 to welcome a CCA prison in Wythe County for economic reasons.
Woods has recently retired from the bench and his successor, Circuit Judge Colin Campbell, will probably hear the second case if it comes to trial.
by CNB