Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 8, 1995 TAG: 9508080068
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Short
The hearing for Supervisor Olin Armentrout had been scheduled for Wednesday, but attorneys for both sides have agreed to postpone it. A new date will be scheduled this month.
Petitioners in Armentrout's district secured enough signatures -10 percent of the number voting when he was elected - to force a hearing. The petition is identical to one filed against another supervisor, Charles Dix, charging that he misused his office by accepting air fare from Corrections Corporation of America to visit a CCA prison site in Texas.
Circuit Judge Willis Woods ruled that the charges against Dix were not supported by the evidence. The evidence in Armentrout's case is expected to be the same, but will be heard by Woods' successor, Circuit Judge Colin Campbell.
The county supervisors voted 4-3 to welcome a CCA prison to Wythe County after Armentrout and Dix gave a favorable report on the CCA operation in Cleveland, Texas.
The state is expected to announce this month its selection of companies to build and operate private prisons. One of two CCA bids is for a 1,500-bed prison near Wytheville.
by CNB