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

DATE: SATURDAY, November 11, 1995                   TAG: 9511130029
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

CONVICTED MOLESTER'S PROBATION REVOKED

A former worker at a church nursery was jailed for violating his probation on a child molestation charge after admitting he molested at least 14 other children. Richard W. Weaverling, 18, pleaded guilty in March to aggravated sexual battery of a 6-year-old girl. In return for the guilty plea, charges that he molested a 2-year-old boy were dropped, and he was given a 10-year suspended sentence.

But during a court-ordered treatment, Weaverling admitted molesting at least 14 children - including all the siblings of the two children he was originally charged with abusing. He has said most of the abuse occurred in the victim's homes but also has admitted fondling children while he babysat them at Bruton Parish Episcopal Church.

Under further probing, Weaverling admitted that he eventually molested every child left in his care, according to court records. It was unclear the total number of children involved.

Fathy A. Abdou, a Newport News psychiatrist, testified Thursday in Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court that Weaverling had a 75 percent chance of continuing to prey on children. Abdou said that unlike most pedophiles, Weaverling showed a sadistic streak, finding it arousing to spank children to the point of tears and insert foreign objects in their rectums.

Weaverling is to be held in jail while an in-depth psychiatric evaluation is done.Then another hearing will be held.

Abdou said castration - either chemical or surgical - was one possible treatment option he discussed with Weaverling, who rejected it.

``He found it repulsive,'' Abdou said outside the courtroom. ``I wouldn't do it to my dog, but my dog doesn't hurt anybody.''

Commonwealth's Attorney Jeff Fairbanks asked Circuit Judge Samuel Powell to revoke Weaverling's probation because he had violated the conditions of the plea agreement. Those conditions included that he avoid activities involving children, cooperate with his probation officer and disclose any criminal acts involving the children of the original two families so that appropriate therapy could be sought for the victims.

Dale Jacobson, Weaverling's probation officer, testified that Weaverling and his mother had gone to an arcade. While Weaverling apparently hadn't interacted with any of the children there, Jacobson said he thought it showed poor judgment on the part of Weaverling and his mother.

Jacobson said he also discovered Weaverling was still had pornographic items he claimed he had destroyed. The items included an adult magazine he kept stashed in a trash can near a baseball field where children played and a bag of magazines, a thermometer and Vaseline stored in the attic of a family home in Surry, Jacobson said.

Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.

by CNB