THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 22, 1994 TAG: 9412220515
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short : 29 lines
A Circuit Court judge dismissed criminal charges against Darron Alfonzo ``Boss'' Sparrow after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on those charges for the second time this year.
Sparrow, 19, a former star athlete at Woodrow Wilson High School, was charged with robbery, use of a firearm in a felony and carrying a firearm on school property.
A student had alleged that Sparrow robbed him in the hallway at I.C. Norcom High School last year.
His first trial, in July, also ended in a hung jury. He could have received a life sentence for robbery.
It was the third time this year that a jury has deadlocked on Sparrow.
Last month, a mistrial was declared in another robbery case.
Sparrow also faces trial next year on charges of malicious wounding, attempted robbery and firearms charges in a third, unrelated case.
KEYWORDS: ROBBERIES ARREST VERDICT TRIAL by CNB