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Thursday, December 14,  2006

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Adam Chapman
Charged in Shooting

Rowe Man Charged in Father's Murder

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor 
  A 19-year-old Rowe area man was charged Sunday with the murder of his father.
  Adam Wayne Chapman was charged with the first degree murder of David Chapman, 51, at the family home on Whitt Branch on Garden Creek shortly before 8 p.m., Sunday.
  Adam Chapman was also charged with use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
  According to Buchanan County Sheriff Ray Foster, David Chapman was shot in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun. Foster said David Chapman's body was found on the bathroom floor of the home, near the bathtub.
  Law enforcement officials learned of the incident after a 9-1-1 call was placed and a woman was heard crying in the background before the line disconnected. A few moments later, a second call was made at which point the woman calling reported she believed her husband was dead.
  The Virginia State Police responded to the scene initially and called for assistance from the sheriff's department at which point, according to Investigator Larry Crouse, the department was told it appeared the shooting had been a homicide.
  Both Foster and Crouse said the shooting appeared to have been "a domestic dispute gone bad."
  Crouse, who reported to the scene, said David Chapman and Adam Chapman had apparently been arguing before the shooting incident occurred.
  He said Adam Chapman allegedly confessed he shot his father, David Chapman, and further alleged that prior to the shooting, David Chapman had struck him (Adam Chapman) in the chest and scratched the back of his neck.
  According to Crouse, Adam Chapman said his father had been drinking prior to the incident.
  "Apparently there was a history of domestic violence," Crouse said.
  In fact, a warrant charging David Chapman with misdemeanor assault and battery of Adam Chapman was issued a little more than a year ago on December 2, 2005. The charge was dismissed in February 2006 on payment of costs when there were no further problems reported.
  The criminal complaint in that incident indicated David Chapman had been drinking and admitted to being intoxicated. It further indicated that both Adam Chapman had his mother, Barbra Chapman, had stated then they were "in fear of bodily harm of David Chapman."
  Adam Chapman was taken into custody Sunday evening following the shooting without incident.
  He was arraigned Tuesday in Buchanan General District Court at which time his case was continued to February 27, 2007. Tazewell Attorney Rich Patterson was appointed as his attorney.
  He was returned to custody at the Haysi Regional Jail, where he is being held without bond pending a bond hearing, which has not yet been set.


CNX Says Gates Are Locked for Safety Reasons

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
  The locks on gates leading to gas well roads in the county are there for safety, a CNX Gas Company official said Monday.
  Last week, members of the Lonesome Pine Trail Riders appeared before the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors to ask for help in getting the roads, which they formerly used as part of an ATV trail in the county reopened.
  Dan Zajdel, CNX public information officer, noted there are basically three reasons why CNX has locked the gates on its gas well roads and the primary reason, he said is safety.
  "Safety is our paramount concern," Zajdel said.
  He said there is no connection between the locked gates and a case pending in Buchanan Circuit Court where GeoMet sought an injunction against CNX in May after problems GeoMet had gaining access to property on which it alleges it has a right of way in order to construct a gas pipeline.
  Zajdel said Tuesday the locking of the gates had no connection to the GeoMet case.
  At last week's meeting, ATV riders said they had previously used the property under an agreement worked out in 2000, however Zajdel said Monday to the best of the company's knowledge, there had not been an agreement made to allow four-wheelers access to CNX properties.
  Board members last week agreed to form a committee to work with County Administrator W.J. Caudill and CNX to try to work out the issue and further agreed to revisit the issue during a continued meeting Monday, December 18 at 10 a.m.
  Members of the Lonesome Pine Trail Riders have encouraged ATV enthusiasts to attend the December 18 meeting.
  On Monday, Zajdel said the three primary reasons the gates have been locked involved the thefts which have occurred on CNX property, although he said the company is not blaming the ATV riders for those thefts. Earlier this year, a rash of copper wire thefts plagued CNX and other gas companies in the county. Without locks on the gates, Zajdel said, it is difficult to control access to the sites, he added.
  Second, Zajdel said there are liability issues with the riders being on the property in the event of injury or death. Two accidents have occurred near CNX properties, Zajdel said.
  The third reason, he said is a legal issue, since some of the property used by CNX is leased and parts of those lease agreements prohibit making the land available for public use.
  Zajdel also noted recent news accounts in Oregon of a family stranded in the snow after a wrong turn occurred when the family turned down a logging road normally blocked by a gate. Vandals had apparently cut the lock off the gate. Zajdel said stories like that in the national news further illustrated the need for companies to be vigilant in maintaining gates and security on their properties.


For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  To subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.



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