Washington County District Court briefs

November 07, 2003|by BRIAN SHAPPELL

Man to face trial in assault, weapons case

Washington County District Court Judge Ralph H. France II found probable cause to send to Circuit Court the case against a Hagerstown man charged with assault and weapons charges, court records say.

France found probable cause during a Tuesday preliminary hearing for Terry Brian Swope, 17, of 309 Fridinger Ave.

Swope is charged with two counts each of first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, possession of a short-barreled shotgun and possession of a firearm by a person younger than 21 in connection with incidents on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4, records say.

Police allege Swope brandished a knife and made slashing motions toward Donald J. Barnhart during an Oct. 4 argument just before noon, near the Fridinger Avenue residence. Barnhart told investigators he then left the area instead of fighting, police said.

Police allege Swope crossed paths with Barnhart again later and displayed a sawed-off shotgun.

Police allege Swope pointed the gun at a resident of the 300 block of Vale Street on Oct. 3 after she told him to leave her backyard.

Woman waives preliminary hearing

A Hagerstown woman waived her right to a preliminary hearing on child abduction charges Wednesday before Washington County District Court Judge R. Noel Spence, court records say.

Records say charges against Jean D. Griffin, 61, of 9902 Stephanie Lane, have been forwarded to Washington County Circuit Court.

Griffin is charged with two counts of abducting a child and one count each of accessory to the abduction of a child, accessory to the abduction of a child under 12 and harboring an abducted child under 12, court records say.

Court records say Raymond L. Deas, of Hampton, Va., alleges Griffin helped her daughter, the mother of his children, conceal the whereabouts of the children for several months starting in October 2002. Griffin's daughter's identity was not included in court documents.

Deas said he has legal custody of the children, according to court records.

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