Ben Fawley Arraigned Today, No Plea Entered

Here is the latest:

The Latest As Of 1/25/06

EXCERPT:

Benjamin Fawley was arraigned Wednesday morning but didn't enter a plea. Judge William Shaw appointed Gloucester attorney Bill Johnson to represent Fawley.

He also scheduled a May 30 trial date.

Fawley is being held without bond.

Behl's mother, Janet Pelasara, was in the courtroom for Fawley's arraignment.

The Grand Jury indictment accuses Fawley of killing Behl "in the commission of, or attempt to commit, rape, forcible sodomy or abduction."

[nibblet]

Here is a picture of Fawley entering court - black hair grown out. Still has that little spot of hair on his chin.

http://www.nbc4.com/news/6430529/detail.html

[nibblet]

Just watched the WUSA report at noon on BF. Gary Reals (paraphrasing) said, "In Fawley's latest version of what happened, he said that Behl choked to death ...."

The way he said it just struck me odd for some reason...I'll look for a video link from WUSA throughout the afternoon.

Anyway, BF was described as being frail and despondent.

A reporter, ??Reals?? yelled out to BF as he was being led away from the courthouse, "Was it really an accident Ben?"

They interviewed a man from Newport News who came to see this. He made a comment on how "young" BF looked.

[vedder]

What????

Now he's saying she "choked to death"...NOT *I* choked her during ....Are you kidding me?

So now he had NOTHING to do with it at all,and it was all Taylors fault...She just Happened to choke to death on her OWN???

Did I read that right?

Keep changing your story loser....

[vedder]

"They interviewed a man from Newport News who came to see this. He made a comment on how "young" BF looked."

Isn't that ironic?...LOL

After years of bragging how young he looked,Im betting he wishes he didn't look so "young" now.

He's so small,soft and pretty...

His new "friends" are going to just LOVE him...

Do you remember what that inmate did to Jeffrey Dahmer?

I hope that looks like a day at Disneyland compared to what they do to this scumbag...

wasn't sure where to put this, and not totally sure if anyone has said this already, but Mathews does not have a regular jail.. and that all we have is a "sherriff's holding cell" where people are only allowed to stay for a max. of 8 hours according to VA law.

that's gotta be one long ride for him.. everything will be gone over in court about what happened, then he has to ride down the same roads (not all but most) he took that fateful night, over and over again to go to the trial.. that has to suck.

[LADY2NOW]

Originally posted by AvengingAngel


Thanks Nibs. I heard last night about Johnson. Tried to learn more about him but couldn't.

So far, this guy looks to be pretty far under the radar. I can't even find him listed in Yahoo's Yellow Pages under lawyers in Gloucester, VA. (I'll look again for lawyers in Mathews--I see from the RTD article, they say he's from Mathews).

Found this interesting site (certified court-appointed counsel for the various districts in VA):

http://idc.vi.virginia.gov/defend/

When I look up certified court-appointed attorneys for felony cases for the 9th Circuit (includes Mathews County), Johnson (William E. and/or Bill) doesn't show up...

http://idc.vi.virginia.gov/defend/Search-Results.aspx

Originally posted by CC81
wasn't sure where to put this, and not totally sure if anyone has said this already, but Mathews does not have a regular jail.. and that all we have is a "sherriff's holding cell" where people are only allowed to stay for a max. of 8 hours according to VA law.

that's gotta be one long ride for him.. everything will be gone over in court about what happened, then he has to ride down the same roads (not all but most) he took that fateful night, over and over again to go to the trial.. that has to suck.

Would that be 8 hours per day or 8 hours total time in the holding cell?

TIA

I'm no legal expert, but I would hope it would be 8 hours per 24.. what else would you do with repeat offenders if it were 8 hours total?

Originally posted by CC81
I'm no legal expert, but I would hope it would be 8 hours per 24.. what else would you do with repeat offenders if it were 8 hours total?

i'm trying to figure out how that can possibly work, as BF would have to spend more than 8 hrs daily in that cell if the trial is held in Mathews County.

If the trial hours are, e.g., from 9AM - 5PM, BF would spend 16 hours in his cell. That's double the allowed 8 hours.

Originally posted by nibblet
Here is a picture of Fawley entering court - black hair grown out. Still has that little spot of hair on his chin.

http://www.nbc4.com/news/6430529/detail.html

Hi Nibblet!

There is no escaping BF's despicable crimes, which the jury will, IMO, learn about, since Taylor was a minor herself. I read this sentence in your link, and was sickened.

"Prosecutors said authorities also found at least 30 videos on Fawley's computers depicting children as young as 1 in sexual acts."

here's what I found that's closest to "Bill Johnson" in the local phone book...

it's actually for a William E. Johnson...

Yellow pages listing:
" the Johnson Law Center"
"when you need to win"
"aggressive representation"

representing areas of:
divorce & custody - support & alimony contested, no-falut separation agreements
traffic offenses- DUI & reckless, speeding, suspended license, habitual offender
criminal defense-drug charges, assault, battery, sex offenses, felonies & misdemeanors.

free consultation 804-694-1111 or toll free 1-866-694-4313

"aggressive representation in all courts"
"circuit, general district & juvenile domestic relations"
"proudly serving the middle peninsula and all of eastern Virginia since 1987.

www.johnsonlawcenter.com


white pages listing:
there are two "William E Johnson" listed, one is a local (Mathews) 725 number and the other is a 224.. which I don't know where that covers. Not positive this is the same attorney, but most Williams go by Bill.... going to check out the JLC web site now...

Originally posted by Hey Paula


i'm trying to figure out how that can possibly work, as BF would have to spend more than 8 hrs daily in that cell if the trial is held in Mathews County.

If the trial hours are, e.g., from 9AM - 5PM, BF would spend 16 hours in his cell. That's double the allowed 8 hours.

I'm pretty sure he's going to have to be hauled in from another County every day.

Originally posted by AvengingAngel


And that is where I step in.............children as young as 1!!!

Should I go on another rant or just chill?

Children as young as 1.

Unreal.

When it comes to subjecting a sexually immature person to "sexual attention" (for want of a better phrase), why don't you just drop kick that young person in the face with steel-toed construction boots. THE EFFECT IS THE SAME. IT IS A VICIOUS PHYSICAL ASSAULT!!!

A 1 year old baby.


Can I trust the porn charges will be tried in Fed Court?

I know child porn on the internet is a Federal offense, but I'm not sure about possession of such videos.

I hope the Commonwealth can introduce it in Taylor's trial, as Taylor, a 17 year old, was considered a minor and BF, a 38 year old, admitted to causing her death during sex.

Originally posted by CC81

I'm pretty sure he's going to have to be hauled in from another County every day.

After the arraignment, according to one of the linked articles above, he was taken by van "back to Richmond City Jail." Presumably that could be a daily round trip.

Originally posted by CC81
there are two "William E Johnson" listed, one is a local (Mathews) 725 number and the other is a 224.. which I don't know where that covers. Not positive this is the same attorney, but most Williams go by Bill.... going to check out the JLC web site now...

Findlaw has a listing for a William E. Johnson with a Gloucester address, but his practice is identified as Estate Planning. That hints that there are likely two different attorneys with that name in the area.
http://pview.findlaw.com/view/1125180_1

Originally posted by Hey Paula


I know child porn on the internet is a Federal offense, but I'm not sure about possession of such videos.

I hope the Commonwealth can introduce it in Taylor's trial, as Taylor, a 17 year old, was considered a minor and BF, a 38 year old, admitted to causing her death during sex.

Sorry to quote myself, but I just noticed they are internet videos, so I suppose it is a Federal offense.

Originally posted by Hey Paula

Sorry to quote myself, but I just noticed they are internet videos, so I suppose it is a Federal offense.

From everything I've seen and read, the current child porn charges are state charges. Every comment about them has been made by the prosecutor for the Commonwealth, while if they were federal charges he wouldn't be involved in prosecuting them. I do recall reading a month or so ago that the U.S. Attorney's office was reviewing the case in contemplation of filing federal charges, but that doesn't appear to have happened so far.

Originally posted by bleibtreu
Findlaw has a listing for a William E. Johnson with a Gloucester address, but his practice is identified as Estate Planning. That hints that there are likely two different attorneys with that name in the area.
http://pview.findlaw.com/view/1125180_1

the phone number listed on findlaw.com is the same as listed in my yellow pages post earlier. Pretty sure it's the same William. Just not positve which white pages listing is him.

Originally posted by bleibtreu
From everything I've seen and read, the current child porn charges are state charges. Every comment about them has been made by the prosecutor for the Commonwealth, while if they were federal charges he wouldn't be involved in prosecuting them. I do recall reading a month or so ago that the U.S. Attorney's office was reviewing the case in contemplation of filing federal charges, but that doesn't appear to have happened so far.

Having them remain State charges would be beneficial, IMO, since BF admitted to having sex with Taylor, who was a minor. If the judge admits the videos in evidence, it will establish a pattern of BF being a sexual predator.

IMO

[LADY2NOW]

Originally posted by CC81


white pages listing:
there are two "William E Johnson" listed, one is a local (Mathews) 725 number and the other is a 224.. which I don't know where that covers. Not positive this is the same attorney, but most Williams go by Bill.... going to check out the JLC web site now...

According to my local phone book, the "224" number is in Colonial Beach, which is not far from Fredericksburg, so I think the 725 number is the one.

Maybe William E Johnson has two offices--one in Gloucester and one in Mathews. The first report about BF's new attorney posted earlier by Hey Paula identified him as "...Gloucester Attorney Bill Johnson" and today's reports identify him as Mathews attorney William E. Johnson.

[nibblet]

Well, if you don't have a lot of murder cases, I guess you gotta do estate planning to keep the lights on...

Originally posted by nibblet
Well, if you don't have a lot of murder cases, I guess you gotta do estate planning to keep the lights on...

[LADY2NOW]

Originally posted by nibblet
Well, if you don't have a lot of murder cases, I guess you gotta do estate planning to keep the lights on...

And the murder case clients you do have oughta be thinking about estate planning... maybe there's a "buy one defense, get one free" kind of deal.

[nibblet]

Originally posted by LADY2NOW




And the murder case clients you do have oughta be thinking about estate planning... maybe there's a "buy one defense, get one free" kind of deal.

:lol:

Click on "see Gary Reals' report" for video

Story here

He is such a weeney.

I was hoping they had put a blindfold on him, and threw him in a very dark van with no windows he could see out of. He does not deserve to see the light of day, literally. IMO I don't think the drive phased him at all about what he had done because he does not think he did anything wrong.

Is there not a weeney smiley?

[LADY2NOW]

Originally posted by Belsma
He is such a weeney.

I was hoping they had put a blindfold on him, and threw him in a very dark van with no windows he could see out of. He does not deserve to see the light of day, literally. IMO I don't think the drive phased him at all about what he had done because he does not think he did anything wrong.

Is there not a weeney smiley?

IMO, he probably wishes he had a camera so that he could document this latest episode in the saga of the tortured life and times of B. "Weeny" Fawley.

Originally posted by LADY2NOW


IMO, he probably wishes he had a camera so that he could document this latest episode in the saga of the tortured life and times of B. "Weeny" Fawley.

You're probably right. He's a weeney times a billion. Who do we call to get that weeney smiley ordered?

Johnson has been a defense attorney in Mathews for 18 years and said he has handled "hundreds of criminal trials" against Mathews Commonwealth’s Attorney John S. Gill, as well "a significant number of jury trials" in various venues across Eastern Virginia. He will share Fawley’s defense responsibilities with attorney Chris Collins of Richmond.


http://gazettejournal.net/

Sounds like BF has good representation.

[LADY2NOW]

Originally posted by lady rahza
Johnson has been a defense attorney in Mathews for 18 years and said he has handled "hundreds of criminal trials" against Mathews Commonwealth’s Attorney John S. Gill, as well "a significant number of jury trials" in various venues across Eastern Virginia. He will share Fawley’s defense responsibilities with attorney Chris Collins of Richmond.


http://gazettejournal.net/

Sounds like BF has good representation.

Thank you for the link--it's the most in-depth article I've seen so far about BF's court appearance today. Yes, Bill Johnson sounds very able and competent, and not cocky or full of himself.

CTV crime library article

http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/ori...pearance1.html

Originally posted by LADY2NOW


According to my local phone book, the "224" number is in Colonial Beach, which is not far from Fredericksburg, so I think the 725 number is the one.

Maybe William E Johnson has two offices--one in Gloucester and one in Mathews. The first report about BF's new attorney posted earlier by Hey Paula identified him as "...Gloucester Attorney Bill Johnson" and today's reports identify him as Mathews attorney William E. Johnson.

Hi Lady!

Here is a photo of William Johnson, Fawley's, attorney. Scroll down.

This is Crime Library's link re Fawley's arraignment today.

William Johnson, BF's Attorney

[LADY2NOW]

Originally posted by Hey Paula


Hi Lady!

Here is a photo of William Johnson, Fawley's, attorney. Scroll down.

This is Crime Library's link re Fawley's arraignment today.

William Johnson, BF's Attorney

Thank you Paula! Good pic!

[LADY2NOW]

Originally posted by richmonds-t



Who was that lawyer we had in Richmond that was a HOT SHOT and went off to another country? I think they pulled his license here. He may have even been a DA at one time. This guy koos like him but with less hair.

I remember a story something like this coming out of Richmond many years ago. Was he the lawyer who "disappeared"--his family feared that he'd died in a boating accident or something, but he was later "found"? A classic case of someone wanting to "skip out" but making their own disappearance look like an "accidental" death?

Anyway, the two may look alike, but I doubt there is any connection between them. The Virginia State Bar site

http://www.vsb.org

has a facility to check records of VA attorneys (disciplinary actions, etc.). A search of "Johnson" doesn't bring up a hit on either Bill or William.

[LADY2NOW]

I saw on the news this am (NBC 12--Richmond) that BF has a court appearance in Richmond today in connection with the child porn charges.

http://www.wwbt.com/

He's a busy guy. Must need a social secretary.

Originally posted by richmonds-t



Who was that lawyer we had in Richmond that was a HOT SHOT and went off to another country? I think they pulled his license here. He may have even been a DA at one time. This guy koos like him but with less hair.

Could you be referring to Joe Morrissey?

Originally posted by LADY2NOW
I saw on the news this am (NBC 12--Richmond) that BF has a court appearance in Richmond today in connection with the child porn charges.

http://www.wwbt.com/

He's a busy guy. Must need a social secretary.

hahaha, I think he has one, Court appointed, and even his own private office with facilities.

I like the way this is going down, first march his .... to one court shackled & escorted by some of the finest, and the very next day before that fully settles in, the next. I wonder if it has yet made an impression in his psyche, and clued him into where his future is going.

I do have a question. I've watched or read most of the news reports from yesterday, but I can't find any explanation as to why Ben was not required to enter a plea.

Does anyone know? TIA.

[LADY2NOW]

Originally posted by AvengingAngel


Thanks, Lady.

Keep us posted on the results of that hearing.

I'll do my best, but I couldn't find this case in the link to Virginia's case information databases (General District nor Circuit Court):

http://www.courts.state.va.us/courts/courts.html

The NBC 4 6 a.m. newscast didn't even mention the reason for today's hearing. Does anyone have a better link to active cases in the Virginia Court System? We may just have to rely on media reports, and things have been so crazy around here at my house lately, that I'm lucky to catch the 6 p.m. news (the 6 a.m. report is easier to catch but, by that point, I've only had 1/2 cup of coffee!).

As always and forever, for Taylor