Metro Briefs

DISTRICT

Man convicted on bomb charges

A jury yesterday convicted a Virginia man of carrying a loaded shotgun near the U.S. Capitol and hiding explosives in his truck.

Michael Gorbey, 38, of Rapidan, was arrested Jan. 18 while he was walking with the shotgun and a three-foot-long sword near the Capitol. Authorities found a homemade explosive device behind the driver’s seat of his truck several weeks later.

Gorbey told officers he was heading to an appointment with Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. No one was injured in the incident, which caused gridlock for hours on Capitol Hill.

A D.C. Superior Court jury found Gorbey guilty of 14 charges, including trying to possess or make a weapon of mass destruction.

During the more than two-week trial, Gorbey, who represented himself, claimed police planted the explosives and that he was only carrying a walking stick when he was arrested.

According to court records, Gorbey has been in and out of prison since 1991 for convictions on larceny, domestic violence and illegal gun and drug charges.

VIRGINIA

HAMPTON

Air unit first to fly F-22 Raptor

The Virginia Air National Guard is set to make history when one of its units takes to the skies this weekend.

Officials said the 192nd Fighter Wing will take off for a drill today at Langley Air Force Base for the first time since the wing’s integration with the 1st Fighter Wing and its conversion to the F-22 Raptor.

The 192nd Fighter Wing is the first Air National Guard unit in the nation to fly the Raptor.

The unit also will change command from Col. Jay Pearsall to Col. Mark McCauley.

CHESAPEAKE

Trial delayed in Mormon killing

The murder trial of a man accused of killing a Mormon missionary and wounding another has been delayed until November.

The trial of James Boughton Jr., 20, was scheduled to begin yesterday in Chesapeake.

Mr. Boughton is charged with fatally shooting Morgan Young, 21, of Utah, and wounding Joshua Heidbrink, 19, of Colorado in January 2006.

Mr. Boughton’s defense attorney, Andrew Sacks, said a judge granted him a continuance until Nov. 10 after learning of new evidence in the case.

Mr. Heidbrink had said at a hearing that he and Mr. Young were going door-to-door evangelizing when they heard a shot and saw a man running toward them.

MOUNT JACKSON

Man charged with 13-year-old crime

Virginia State Police said they have arrested a man accused of murdering his wife in 1995.

Police said Lawrence Peter Gaudenzi, 44, of Timberville, was arrested without incident during a traffic stop yesterday afternoon in Shenandoah County.

Sgt. Thomas A. Cunningham Jr. said Mr. Gaudenzi initially reported his wife Lisa Kathy Gaudenzi, 31, missing to authorities in Caroline County, where the couple lived. State police became involved in the case in 1997 and recently discovered crucial information that was presented to a grand jury in Caroline, which returned a murder indictment.

Sgt. Cunningham declined to say whether a body was ever found, citing “ongoing components to the investigation.”

MARYLAND

ANNAPOLIS

Elderly escapee may go back to jail

An 81-year-old North Carolina man in poor health who escaped from a Maryland prison 43 years ago appears headed back to jail.

Defense attorney Andrew Jackson said Willie Parker was unexpectedly arrested and taken to court yesterday. Extradition documents signed by North Carolina Gov. Michael F. Easley arrived about an hour into the hearing.

The ailing Parker was first arrested in February after Maryland authorities reviewing old case files discovered he had a North Carolina driver’s license.

Parker was later released on bond while North Carolina waited for a formal extradition request from Maryland authorities.

State officials confirm Mr. Easley received and approved the request. Mr. Jackson protested the sudden nature of the extradition, saying Parker was taken into custody without his medication or a change of clothes.

CUMBERLAND

Suspect flees during trial

Authorities in Allegany County are looking for a convict who went to lunch during his robbery trial and never came back.

State’s Attorney Michael Twigg said Simeon Younger, 33, failed to return from a lunch break Thursday during his trial on robbery, assault and theft charges in Allegany County Circuit Court.

Younger was free on bail at the time.

Despite his absence, the trial resumed and he was convicted yesterdayof the charges.

Mr. Twigg says police consider Younger armed and dangerous.

From wire dispatches and staff reports