Case closed
Published: November 3, 2009
WAYNESBORO — DuBose Egleston Jr. pleaded guilty Monday to a reduced sexual assault charge, ending the former Waynesboro city councilman’s short-lived criminal case.
Judge Gordon F. Saunders accepted the plea deal, issuing a suspended jail sentence of 60 days and ordering Egleston to pay a $500 fine. The judge also forbade Egleston from contact with the victim.
Details about the incident were not disclosed. Authorities on Sept. 26 charged Egleston, 55, with attempted rape about five hours after a 27-year-old Charlottesville nurse told police he’d forced himself upon her.
The News Virginian does not identify victims of sexual assault.
Free on bond, Egleston was noticeably absent from council meetings and other civic gatherings where he diligently had appeared for decades.
Waynesboro General District Court Judge William D. Heatwole stepped aside from proceedings because of his relationship with Egleston. In his place, Saunders accepted an agreement that reduced an attempted rape charge to a Class 1 misdemeanor charge of sexual battery.
“That’s what the facts showed and that’s all that we had,” Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Charles Ajemian said. “[The victim’s] on board with it and she thinks it’s appropriate.”
Saunders also ordered Egleston to pay for any medical and counseling costs the victim might incur.
The victim did not suffer from physical injuries, Ajemian said.
Waynesboro City Councilwoman Lorie Smith said Egleston and the victim both face a tough road ahead.
“It’s my hope that both parties here can move past this and put their lives back on track,” she said.
“Overall I think our community is built on the fact that we’ve got good community support,” Smith said, referring to Egleston’s city involvement.
Egleston served one term on Waynesboro City Council from 1998 to 2002, and ran unsuccessfully seven other times.
Under the original attempted rape charge, Egleston faced up to 10 years in prison.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
Most of these comments were well reasoned and thought out. It seems Mejenks is the one going on emotion and friendship with the guilty party.
alright, you little whiners. I spoke out in support of Dubose. I still support Dubose. I never bashed the victim, nor do i believe that the support of one person automatically means that you are bashing the other. llbk1971, I also would NEVER plead guilty to a crime I didn’t commit, which is why I spent $65,000 to defend myself against a false allegation. But I personally know people who HAVE plead guilty to crimes they didn’t commit.. who am I to judge their very personal reasons for having done so? I haven’t spoken to Dubose, so I don’t presume to know what he has or hasn’t done, what his thoughts were regarding the plea, etc. If he is guilty, then shame on him, but one action does not negate his worth as a human being. If he is innocent, then I feel empathy for him, having gone through a similar experience. No matter what, several lives were affected negatively and for that, I am sad. I would surmise that the people who spoke out in support of Dubose previously aren’t interested in baiting you hysterical folk who are like pirahna just waiting to get your fangs in anyone who has anything reasonable to say. So, have at it, you fools, take your chomp at me. Your foolish comments say more about yourselves than you do anyone else.
I WOULD NEVER PLEAD GUILTY TO SOMETHING, IF I KNEW I WAS INNOCENT, REGARDLESS OF THE EVIDENCE. Face it, Dubois knew he had taken part in this crime. So all of you Dubois supporters and ‘victim’ bashers, think about that.
Lyonman: Your point well taken, however, perhaps the “victim” after having a few days to rethink her accusation also realized it was not accurate and feared loss at a trial, hence there being no punishment at all! This way she was in a win win situation, she remains annonymous and he gets punished.
Alle: With all the other friends of Duboise who posted before accusing the victim and praising Duboise, maybe she just didn’t want to be re-victimized.
Of course none seem to want to post in this article since he has PLEADED GUILTY.
He attacked this woman and at the least groped her private parts. He shoul d be spending some time in the new jail.
wborobts, All I can say is that is a question for the judge, those decisions are up to his discretion. Our justice system falls short in many areas, consistency being one of those.
What a joke!!!!
Correction one year in prison. My mistake.
Alle, the only thing I can say to you is that we all have our own opinions and as far as I can see, the other opinions disagree with yours. Which is fine, it’s what America is built on but how come on the other comment I posted the exact same thing happened to another man and he was sentenced to 10 years in prison with none of it suspended. Good ol’ Dubose had all his time suspended! Well good for him and once again our justice system has done a fantastic job!
Perhaps you all should read the words of the Assistant Commonwealth Attorney, Charles Ajemian, “[The Victim’s] on board with it and thinks it’s appropriate.“ There are always two sides to every story, and the victim here had the option to allow the plea agreement or go to trial. She allowed it, and the Judge set the punishment based on the charge. Were you there? Do you know all the facts? Why did the victim choose to allow the plea agreement, were there facts that she didn’t want exposed in the court room? There are only 3 persons who know the true facts: the victim, the defendant and God! Perhaps we would all be better off if you kept your slanderous opinions to yourselves. Until you walk in the shoes of another, keep your judgement to yourself.
Post a Comment(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Flag Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Advertisement