ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 17, 1996 TAG: 9601170062
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE
A Roanoke man who spit on his mail carrier when the carrier wouldn't hand-deliver a letter was sentenced to six months in federal prison Tuesday.
Shannon Short, 20, was expecting his paycheck in the day's mail when his carrier, Donald Tuck, made his rounds at Short's condominium complex last August.
Short approached Tuck and asked for his mail because he didn't have his mailbox key with him. Tuck refused, saying he was required to place all mail in the mailboxes.
According to Postal Inspector Terry Vlug, Short and three friends then followed Tuck on his rounds, swearing at him.
As Tuck went back to his vehicle, Short spit on the carrier twice and threw a lighted cigarette at him. Tuck knocked Short down, and the two began rolling around on the pavement.
Short was charged with assaulting, intimidating and interfering with a postal carrier in performance of his official duties, a federal felony. After he serves his sentence, he will be on probation for a year.
LENGTH: Short : 29 linesby CNB