Woodson appears briefly in Waynesboro Court

By Cleve Wiese

Published: June 24, 2008

Alleged Interstate 64 sniper Slade Woodson appeared in Waynesboro Circuit Court today for a scheduled plea hearing, which attorneys for the prosecution and defense promptly agreed to continue until July 14.
Woodson, 19, of Afton, was indicted by a Waynesboro grand jury May 12 on two felony charges of firing in to an occupied building, three counts of maliciously shooting from a vehicle and one count of destruction of property for allegedly firing on the Dupont Community Credit Union on Lucy Lane and an occupied residence on North Commerce Avenue in the early morning hours of March 27.
Police say those incidents were a continuation of the March 27 sniper attacks and vandalism along Interstate 64 in Albemarle County, where Woodson is facing 15 felony indictments scheduled for a Sept. 16 bench trial. Several vehicles and a few homes were struck in those shootings, police said. Two people in cars were slightly injured.
Dave Smith, Woodson’s attorney, said his client would be prepared to enter a plea or set a trial date at the July 14 hearing, scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
“We decided to continue the matter for a couple of weeks to work out a few outstanding matters,” Smith said.
Brandon Dawson, 16, of Crozet, who allegedly accompanied Woodson during the Waynesboro and Albemarle County incidents, has pleaded guilty in Albemarle Circuit Court to five counts of maliciously shooting at an occupied vehicle.