The Virginian-Pilot
                            THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, September 16, 1996            TAG: 9609130023
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A10  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   35 lines

KUDOS FOR THE BEACH PROSECUTORS

A heartfelt measure of congratulations is in order for Commonwealth's Attorney Bob Humphreys and his chief deputy, Albert Alberi, for their back-to-back convictions of Billy Joe Brown and Dustin Turner in the abduction and murder trail of Georgia college student Jennifer Evans.

While we have good criminal laws in Virginia to protect the citizenry, without diligent and skilled legal counsel to ensure that these laws are enforced, the system does not work.

The outstanding work of these career prosecutors is especially noteworthy in light of the unfair criticism that has been leveled at them in the recent past. Mr. Humphreys has been inappropriately criticized by some for following the grand jury report in pursuing malfeasance charges against members of the School Board, when he could not possibly have disregarded the recommendations of the citizens of the city.

Even more unjust has been the misrepresentations regarding Mr. Alberi in his recent pursuit of a judgeship in Virginia Beach. It was mistakenly reported that he was found to be not qualified by the Virginia Beach Bar Association based on factors such as judicial integrity and legal skill. This factually incorrect report was contradicted by the fact that both Houses of the General Assembly found Mr. Alberi fully qualified to be a judge of a court in this state.

The fact that Virginia Beach has the lowest crime rate of any city of its size in the entire country is in no small measure due to outstanding work of prosecutors Bob Humphreys and Al Alberi. Their dedicated service to this city should be appreciated and properly acknowledged by the public and the press.

ROBERT F. McDONNELL

Member, House of Delegates

Richmond, Sept. 12, 1996 by CNB