The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • 3

A3 Local State City Editor Cindy Corell 213-9123, ccorellnewsleader.com www.newsleader.com Priest pleads guilty to sex abuse of teen boy The Associated Press PRINCE GEORGE A Roman Catholic priest pleaded guilty Friday to sexually abusing a 14- year-old boy in 1982, but avoided a prison sentence. The Rev. John P. Blankenship faced a maximum of 20 years in prison on four counts of sodomy, and Circuit Judge James F. D'Alton said he would impose the entire sentence if Blankenship misbehaves while he is on indefinite, supervised probation.

The prosecution said the crimes took place between June 1982 and November 1982 when the victim and his mother went to the Church of the Sacred Heart The Associated Press The Rev. John P. Blankenship leaves Prince George County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to four counts of sodomy. ly duties on Aug. 9.

At the time, Blankenship was chaplain at the Petersburg federal prison. Sullivan learned of the alleged abuse of Presson Briefly Soap Box Derby registration begins WAYNESBORO Registration for the 10th Annual Blue Ridge Soap Box Classic begins today and will run through March 26. Registration forms can be picked up at derby exhibits at area malls over the next three weeks or on-line at www.brsoap-box.com. The derby exhibit will be on display today at Fashion Square Mall in Charlottesville. It will be displayed Feb.

8 at Valley Mall in Harrisonburg and Feb. 22 at Colonial Mall-Staunton. Registration is open to area boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 17. The Soap Box Derby has been run through downtown Waynesboro since 1994. This year's race is scheduled for May 10.

Unemployment in area down STAUNTON A small jump in Staunton's unemployment rate in December was the only increase in the area as the overall unemployment rate dropped from 3.1 percent in November to 3 percent. Augusta County's unemployment in December fell slightly, dropping to 2.7 percent from 2.8 percent in November. Waynesboro had the area's biggest decrease in unemployment, dropping from 4.2 percent in November to 3.9 percent in December. Statewide unemployment was 3.6 percent in December, down from 3.7 percent in November and 4.2 percent in December 2001. Harrisonburg had the state's lowest unemployment rate in December at 1.4 percent.

Martinsville had the highest, at 11.6 percent. Nationally, the unem r-T Officials search for missing girl with AIDS If. 'J OOP boosts spending; Dms question idea I 'I; it 9 1 1-1 if --l The Associated Press RICHMOND In the buildup to Sunday's deadline for the legislative money committees to present drafts of their budget bills. Republicans have taken pains sweetening key areas of Democratic Gov. Mark R.

Warner's bare-bones budget. On Friday, House GOP leaders announced that they had found, in a budget $2.1 billion out of balance, millions of dollars to underwrite a $1 billion roadbuilding bond package and $6 million for people with substance abuse and mental health problems. A day earlier, they announced the discovery of $17.4 million to reopen 12 Department of Motor Vehicles service centers and restore Wednesday operations at all 73 DMV centers statewide all emergency cuts Warner ordered in October to rein in a runaway shortfall. Saturday, Februaty 1, 2003 in 1988. Blankenship admitted abusing the boy, apologized to him and paid for his college education and counseling, the diocese said.

Where the cash is to be found by a Republican-led General Assembly intolerant of even the smallest tax increase won't be known until Sunday, when the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee make their budgets public. "We've identified some new sources of revenue and we've made considerable adjustments, but we will not have all of these figures for another two days," Appropriations Committee Chairman Del. Vincent F. Callahan Jr. said Friday.

"It's a little premature at this stage because we haven't put the whole puzzle together yet," said Callahan, R-Fairfax. The plan as well as Warner's proposals hinge upon meeting the state's oflicial forecast for nearly 5 percent growth in state revenues for the fiscal year that begins July 1, a prospect jeopardized by the possibility of a war in Iraq. stitution. Democratic Gov. Mark R.

Warner is among the proposal's chief proponents, even, though it would not Purkey affect him. The amendment would apply only to governors elected beginning in 2005. The proposal also was backed by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and by Warner's Commission on Efficiency and Effectiveness, chaired by former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, a Democrat.

Purkey, R-Virginia Beach, said a two-term governor would promote stability and long-range planning that could slow the loss of jobs and relocation of corporate headquarters to other states. "You're firing your CEO every four years and getting rid of your staff every four years," he said. Purkey and supporters of his resolution also noted that voters will have the final say. had come forward with allegations against Mr. Blankenship, in addition to myself." The Rev.

Pasquale Apuz-zo, spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, said Sullivan, in his conversation with Presson, was referring to a claim made by a third person about the deceased. "The claim was that that person had, as an adult, some kind of sexual interaction with John Blankenship," Apuzzo said. Apuzzo said the Blankenship "situation has certainly been regrettable and sad, and we are grateful that it is concluded." Sullivan forced Blankenship to retire from priest- moved from Richmond to California, to take Brittany because caring for her had become stressful. Ragland said authorities have been unable to determine where in California the women were living. Parker told the newspaper that she knew the women's temporary address in California, but she and the women agreed that Parker would not receive future addresses or telephone numbers to prevent Brittany's incarcerated father from finding her.

Ragland said he had no details about the father. Parker said that about a month after Brittany left, the women sent Parker a legal document to sign, giving them full custody of the girl so they could get medical care for her. Parker told the newspaper she still expected Brittany to return to her home. lot on Gaskins Road, but the county closed it because of concern about lawsuits. "I'm going to go back to it," he said.

"We'll find a place." His reputation for vigor has hardly been diminished by his marriage in July 1994 to Lynn Brack-enridge, who is more than 40 years younger than he. By all accounts, it is a remarkably happy union, even though Brackenridge is almost as energetic as Carrico in her role as president of Gateway Homes. ment afterward. "Mr. Blankenship's acceptance of his responsibility for the crimes he perpetrated some 20 years ago was a necessary step enabling me to go forward with my life," wrote Presson, who allowed his name to be used.

Blankenship told the court, "20 years ago, I made a tragic mistake. I have never again made that mistake." He said his actions "caused me a sense of sorrow that I will carry to my grave." Presson' said in his statement that he was told by Bishop Walter F. Sullivan last summer that "he was aware of an individual, now deceased, that District Court Judge Willian G. Boice ordered the investigation and transfer of custody. A message left at a listing for a Kim Parker was not returned Friday.

She told the Richmond Times-Dispatch after the closed hearing that she does not know where Brittany is living and has no way to contact the women. Parker, 47, met Brittany's biological mother through Rainbow Kids an AIDS-related charity she operates to provide respite and long-term care for children whose parents have AIDS or are HIV-positive. Parker also cares for children who are infected with the disease or have other disabilities. She currently has two children, ages 22 months and 14 years, in her care. Parker said she asked her friends, who had His work ethic would be "almost mythical in proportion but for the fact that it's true," said Justice Donald W.

Lemons, the junior member of the court. Carrico typically rises at 4:15 a.m. for a bike ride of at least six miles around his western Henrico County neighborhood. He's in his oflice by 6:45 a.m. and often is the last to leave the Supreme Court building in the evening.

Until recently, he Rollerbladed on weekends in the commuter parking X-' 1 2 in Prince George County to do housekeeping chores. The attacks occurred when the boy was left in Blankenship's care, said Detective Eric A. Young, who investigated the case. The plea agreement said that Blankenship underwent treatment and monitoring from 1989 to 1994 and that was a mitigating circumstance. The agreement said "incarceration is not warranted to protect the public" from Blankenship, 65, who no longer lives in Virginia.

D'Alton noted that the victim, Robert G. Presson, supported the plea agreement. Presson was in court and issued a written state in an effort to locate this child." Brittany Williams lived with Kim Parker in Henrico County from age 2 until August 2000, when Parker said she sent the girl to live with two women in California. Parker said the girl's mother gave her legal custody of Brittany in March 1996. shortly before dying of AIDS.

A lawyer, Theresa Rhinehart, was appointed by the court some time ago to represent the child's interests. Ragland declined to say when or why she was appointed and Rhine-hart did not return a telephone message Friday. Rhinehart subpoenaed Parker to appear in court Wednesday and provide the names and address of the child's caretakers. When Parker refused to comply, Henrico Juvenile and Domestic Relations es with the number of lawyers admitted. Last week, it went to 49,010.

Carrico's number is 867. As chief justice since 1981, he has presided over the admission of almost two-thirds of the lawyers practicing in the state. Any discussion of the 86-year-old Carrico might understandably start with longevity, but it moves quickly to vitality and accomplishment. His 42 years on the Supreme Court, 22 as chief justice, ended Friday. The Associated Press Brittany Williams sits with her guardian, Kim Parker near their suburban Richmond home in this Nov.

4, 1999, file photo. Police and social service officials are searching for the now 9-year-old girl with AIDS after Parker said she gave the child to friends two years ago but refused Wednesday to tell authorities the friends' names or address. Woman says she gave girl to 'friends' Proposal to allow two-term governor clears conunittee The Associated Press RICHMOND Police and social service officials are searching for a 9-year-old girl with AIDS whose guardian said she gave the child to friends two years ago but this week refused to tell authorities the friends' names or address. A Henrico County juvenile court judge placed the missing girl in the custody of the local Social Services Department on Wednesday and told the agency to work with police to find the child. The police and county social services agency have issued nationwide alerts to law enforcement and child welfare agencies seeking help in locating the girl.

"It is a very unusual, even bizarre situation," Gordon Ragland, director of the social services department, said Friday. "There is an active investigation going on right now ployment rate in December, 5.7 percent, was unchanged from Novem ber. From Staff Reports Briefly Warner declares emergency RICHMOND Gov. Mark R. Warner declared a state of emergency Fri day in two southwest Virginia counties that have experienced water short ages due to the freezing temperatures.

Buchanan and Tazewell counties will receive bot tled water from the Department of Emergency Management, according to a statement from the governor's office. Tanker trucks are expected in the reeion bv Saturday. Both rural counties have been suffering from a lack of water after freezing temperatures broke water lines. Buchanan County declared a local emergency Thursday. From Wire Reports Lottery Pick 3 Day: 0-1-6 Night: 2-6-7 Pick 4 Day: 8-9-9-4 Night: 8-8-5-7 Cash Five Day: 3-5-8-17-26 Night: 5-9-10-27-32 Msga ISns 1-8-9-19-22 Mssa Esll 21 The Associated Press RICHMOND A proposal to end Virginia's status as the only state that denies its governor a second consecutive term cleared a major legislative hurdle Friday.

The House Privileges and Elections Committee voted 11-10 to endorse a proposed constitutional amendment allowing the chief executive to seek reelection. The same committee has rejected the pro-posal annually for more than a decade. "Eleven-10 is a miracle," said Del. Harry R. "Bob" Purkey, the measure's sponsor.

"I really didn't think it was going to pass. It's a good day for Virginia." Purkey said he is optimistic about the proposal's chances on the House of Delegates floor, where it will be considered early next week, but worried about its prospects in the Senate. If approved by the General Assembly this year, the resolution would have to pass the legislature again next year and then be approved by voters in November 2004 before becoming part of the Con- Retiring chief justice spent 42 years on high court Richmond Times-Dispatch RICHMOND Harry L. Carrico was a judge before five of his six colleagues on the Virginia Supreme Court were born. The sixth was barely out of diapers when Carrico became a trial justice in Fairfax County in 1943.

When Carrico was named to the high court, the man who will succeed him as chief justice, Leroy R. Hassell was 5 years old. The number the Virginia State Bar assigns to a newly admitted lawyer increas-.