After almost two hours of deliberations in U.S. District court on June 13, jurors found Charles Leo Kingrea guilty of participating in a Page County cockfighting ring.

The prosecution alleged that Kingrea, 61, of Gordonsville, operated a stand that sold supplies for cockfights at Little Boxwood, located outside of Stanley. He was convicted of conspiracy to engage in an animal-fighting venture, aiding and abetting a gambling business associated with cockfighting and transporting a gaff, or knife used in cockfighting.

The latter became illegal on May 2, 2007, making this the first cockfighting case to be prosecuted under the new federal law.

A fourth count, being a principal aider or abettor in cockfighting activity, was dismissed due to a wording technicality in the indictment.

Kingrea, who has no previous criminal record, will likely receive a two- to three-year prison sentence when he’s sentenced Oct. 3.

He was one of four Virginia men indicted in connection with Little Boxwood on Sept. 18.

Luis Aguirre Martinez, 49, of Manassas, and Dale Edward Moreland, 52, of Winchester, struck plea deals. Both will be sentenced following the prosecution of Albert Taylor, 65, of Luray, who’s scheduled for trial on Sept. 23.

Taylor is accused of paying a bribe to a county official to protect the operation.

Although the indictment doesn’t name the official, court documents and prosecutors have since identified the official as Page County Sheriff Daniel Presgraves.

New assistant city manager named
New Market Town Manager Evan Vass will fill Harrisonburg’s yearlong assistant city manager vacancy on July 14.

On June 13, City Manager Kurt Hodgen announced his selection of Vass, 27, from more than 60 applicants. Hodgen, formerly the city’s assistant city manager, moved up when former City Manager Roger Baker retired a year ago.

Vass of Penn Laird has been New Market’s town manager since 2003. He must move within Harrisonburg city limits for the new job, where he’ll earn an annual salary of $80,000.

Third lawsuit surfaces against Shenvalee
A third former employee has filed a sexual battery lawsuit against the Shenvalee Golf Resort in New Market and its former general manager, Donald Martz.

Megan Whittington claims Martz sexually harassed her for more than a year after she was hired as a waitress and bartender in March 2005. The allegations include touching her inappropriately, speaking to her in a graphic and degrading manner and sucking on her finger after she cut it.

The lawsuit seeks $200,000 in compensatory damages, $350,000 in punitive damages and attorney’s fees.

Attorney Gene Hart, who is representing all three plaintiffs, said “20 or so women” have told him about similar experiences.

Despite his announced retirement in April, Martz continues to direct the actions of Shenvalee staff, members and visitors.

Library announces Big Read
Massanutten Regional Library will again hand out free literature through the Big Read program, thanks to a $10,000 matching grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Beginning in September, the library will give away at least 4,000 copies of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” Mark Twain’s 1876 classic about a young boy’s adventures on the Mississippi River.

In addition to the give-away, public readings and panel discussions, the library will organize a community service project to build fences for downtown nonprofits. The month-long event will kick off on Oct. 3.