Road Rage

HAGERSTOWN A Baltimore man convicted in February of attempted second-degree murder in a June 19, 2006, road rage incident on Interstate 70 was ordered Monday to spend 30 years in prison. Jimmie Lee Johnson, 36, also was convicted of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, carrying a handgun in a vehicle, use of a handgun during the commission of a violent crime and possession of marijuana. Washington County Circuit Judge Donald E. Beachley sentenced Johnson to 20 years for the attempted murder conviction, 10 years consecutive for using a handgun during a crime of violence, two years concurrent for transporting a handgun in a vehicle and one year concurrent for possession of marijuana.

HAGERSTOWN - A Baltimore man was convicted of attempted second-degree murder in Washington County Circuit Court Thursday in connection with a June 19, 2006, road-rage incident on Interstate 70. Jimmie Lee Johnson, 36, also was convicted of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, carrying a handgun in a vehicle, use of a handgun during the commission of a violent crime and possession of marijuana. Washington County Circuit Judge Donald E. Beachley presided over the trial.

HAGERSTOWN - A New York man was ordered Thursday in Washington County Circuit Court to spend 90 days in jail for pointing a handgun at another motorist while the men drove on Interstate 81 in May 2006. Mark F. Lappies, 50, of 11031 Cobbville Road in Adams, N.Y., entered an Alford plea to second-degree assault and pleaded guilty to transporting a handgun in a vehicle in the incident reported May 24, 2006. Under an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but admits that the prosecution has sufficient evidence to gain a conviction.

HAGERSTOWN Washington County District Judge Ralph H. France II set bond at $400,000 Tuesday for a Baltimore man charged in a Monday "road rage" incident on Interstate 70 in which he allegedly opened fire at a vehicle he passed. Jimmie Lee Johnson, 35, is accused of firing several rounds from a 9 mm handgun at the passenger side of a Chrysler PT Cruiser on Monday about 2 p.m. while eastbound on I-70 in a Chevrolet Suburban. No one was injured, according to court documents. Johnson, of 8407 Loch Raven Blvd.

Clouds today, sunshine tomorrow To the editor: I sit under my favorite tree with a heavy heart, drenched with sadness, impassioned for the dear persons caught in that powerful, devastating storm. I want to say something to encourage, but my cup of courage is almost empty. I must find a way to fill it again, so I can offer some to others. I know what to do - give it all to Jesus. Fear, pain, unbelief, sorrow and death were rampant. The very height of suffering.

Attic fire damages Smithsburg home Firefighters were investigating the cause of an attic fire Wednesday afternoon in a home on Comanche Drive in Smithsburg. Firefighters from several Washington County units as well as from Franklin County, Pa., responded to the fire, according to Smithsburg Volunteer Fire Co. Chief Ron Jeter. Jeter said no one was home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries. He added that it was a small fire, but that more investigation was needed to determine the cause.

Corporate America better start being nicer to me or I'm going to start taking brand names. I'm still having a fit over the Great Ice Cream Scam of 2004, in which just about every major manufacturer has scrapped the traditional half-gallon container in favor of something smaller (for the same price, of course). And they try to confuse us by going metric on their packaging, hoping we won't notice the bait-and-switch. Instead of a patriotic, proud, all-American measurement like "One U.S. Half Gallon," they must slink in with some foreign, communistic measurement, like "1.742642 Hectalitres.

Washington County District Judge R. Noel Spence found probable cause to send on to Circuit Court all 12 counts in the case against a Waynesboro, Pa., man charged in a road-rage incident, court records state. According to charging documents, Tony Lee Frye was driving south on Interstate 81 on Oct. 11, when he allegedly pointed a handgun at a car carrying three people. About 7:30 p.m., Maryland State Police received a phone call from one of the people inside the car. The caller said someone pointed a gun at them and told police where to find the assailant, records state.

A Waynesboro, Pa., man was arrested on several charges following a road rage incident on Interstate 81 Saturday night, a Maryland State Police trooper said. Tony Lee Frye Jr., 19, of Waynesboro was charged with three counts of first degree assault, three counts of second degree assault, reckless endangerment, possession of a handgun and possession of a gun with the serial number filed off, Trooper Kyle George said. About 7:30 p.m., Frye and another driver passed each other a few times on the Interstate, then Frye allegedly pointed a gun at the other driver, George said.