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Vol. 35, No. 9 | Richmond Suburban News | July 4, 2018
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Chalkley reviews laws Bourassa retains seat that took effect Sunday By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
(Editor’s note: The following was submitted by R.E. “Trip” Chalkley III, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Hanover County. He submits an overview of new laws taking effect on July 1 every year.) July 1, 2018, will, as always, have new laws or amendments to existing criminal statutes take effect. The following is only a summary of the legislative changes which I feel will be of interest to my fellow citizens. Please be cognizant that this is only a summary of new legislation and does not detail all changes. Should the reader have any questions, please call me at 365-6186. As always, my thanks to Senators (Ryan) McDougle and (Siobhan) Dunnavant and Delegates (Chris) Peace and (Buddy) Fowler for being receptive to my concerns and their efforts in the legislative process. Any private swim club may permit its members to bring lawfully acquired alcoholic beverages onto the premises and to consume The authority for multi-jurisdiction grand juries to investigate fraud crimes has been expanded. The threshold amount for felony charges in certain larceny cases has been increased from $200 to $500. The $200 threshold had been the standard since 1980.
them on the premises. Abandoning an animal will now be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500 either or both). This amendment increases the penalty from a Class 3 misdemeanor ($500 fine). Also, the definition of “abandon” is
changed from 5 days to 4 days of failing to provide basic care. An agency seeking asset forfeiture of money or property, must now inform D.C.J.S.
(Department of Criminal Justice Services) what CHALKLEY offense the requested forfeiture is based upon, whether the owner of the property has been charged and the status of any charge. In essence, asset forfeiture is the procedure whereby an agency seizes property gained by enumerated illegal means. No forfeiture can occur without a legal proceeding. The authority for multi-jurisdiction grand juries to investigate fraud crimes has been expanded. The threshold amount for felony charges in certain larceny cases has been increased from $200 to $500. The $200 threshold had been the standard since 1980. Among the statutes affected are grand larceny, petit larceny, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, certain arson offenses, and credit card fraud. Numerous offenses which punish larceny and fraud offenses are impacted by these amendments. The penalty for female genital mutilation see LAWS, pg. 4
HANOVER -- Any hint of suspense regarding the upcoming Hanover County School Board representative selection from the Mechanicsville District disappeared early in last week’s Hanover County Board of Supervisors meeting. Robert Barnette, one of two nominees, withdrew his name from consideration during a Public Comment period at the beginning of the meeting. The withdrawal left only one name -- incumbent Roger Bourassa -- remaining in the list of nominees, and Mechanicsville supervisor Canova Peterson made his reap-
pointment official w i t h unanimous support from his fellow board memBOURASSA bers. Bourassa currently serves as vice chair of the panel. Peterson said he was glad to be retaining the services of both candidates, who he described as excellent. “I’m glad he (Barnette) did not resign from some of the other positions he already held in this community,” Peterson
said. “Fortunately, I get to keep both of these people doing the work in good positions with this county.” Peterson noted the qualifications of both candidates before nominating Bourassa. “As I mentioned in our last meeting, I had a great opportunity to have two people with significant service to be nominated for this position,” Peterson said. “Both have a long history of service in this community. I couldn’t make a bad decision. Barnette gave no reason for his decision to remove his name from consideration, but thanked supporters for placing see BOURASSA, pg. 11
The year was 2009 . . .
As the Hanover Tomato Festival prepares to celebrate its 40th year, this photo from 2009 is a reminder of the record crowd -- 42,000 -- that turned out at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville. For more on the Tomato Festival, turn to page 14.