ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 17, 1996 TAG: 9602190044
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK
A Roanoke man pleaded no contest Friday to breaking into the city's largest law office, where he rummaged through legal documents and attempted to access the firm's computer system.
Alexandro Feliciano, 22, did not contest a charge of breaking and entering the law office of Woods, Rogers and Hazlegrove in the First Union Tower on October 1, 1995. Feliciano was arrested after being confronted by lawyers working that Sunday afternoon.
Judge Robert P. Doherty took the case under advisement until he can receive background information on Feliciano for a sentencing hearing March 22.
Authorities said they do not believe the burglary was motivated by any interest Feliciano may have had in a case handled by the law firm. Assistant Public Defender William Fitzpatrick said his client suffers from mental problems that will be explained in more detail at the sentencing hearing.
At Friday's hearing in Roanoke Circuit Court, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Wanda DeWease gave a summary of the evidence:
About 3 p.m. Oct. 1, attorney William Poff noticed a man sitting in a law office on the 14th floor. The man was smoking a cigar taken from the office and had his feet propped up on the desk as he attempted to log on to a computer.
Lawyers later found that someone had added notations on several legal documents found scattered about the office.
Feliciano, who refused to identify himself or accompany the lawyers to a security office, was arrested a short time later after police were called to the building.
None of the firm's records was lost or damaged during the break-in.
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