"Editor's Note: Since the time of the story below, a Charlottesville jury awarded Jesse Sheckler $10 million in compensation in a defamation suit against WVIR.

Part of the suit against WVIR involved an on-air broadcast on April 6, 2001 at 5 p.m. which included the following statement:

"D-E-A AND JADE FORCES CONFISCATED FIFTY GRAMS OF CRACK COCAINE AND 5-HUNDRED GRAMS OF POWDER COCAINE IN MARCH AT SHECKLER'S HOME AND BUSINESS. MANY GREENE COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE SHOCKED AT THE NEWS." (Plaintiff's Exhibit 1, Script of 5 p.m. broadcast on April 6, 2001).

According to the article below, Jesse R. Sheckler was charged with "one felony count of drug conspiracy ... The indictment read: these persons [Jesse R. Sheckler, Samuel E. Rose, Rodney Lamont Robinson, Ladu Rahiem Bolden, and Todd Jeffery Shue] did knowingly and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate and agree together and with others to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams of crack cocaine and 500 grams or more of cocaine."

There does not appear to be any evidence that cocaine was actually found at Sheckler's home or business.

The article below was originally posted on this website on May 31, 2003. For more, see Index for Defamation Suit Against WVIR as Covered on Loper Website.

"A jury decided that Stanardsville resident Jesse R. Sheckler was not guilty of one felony count of drug conspiracy in United States District Court (Western District of Virginia) in Charlottesville on Thursday, November 1.

Jack C. Frels, assistant U.S. attorney, said there was evidence that showed Sheckler, 50, invested $37,000 in Samuel E. Rose's narcotics business expecting close to $80,000 in return. Tape recordings of conversations between Rose and Sheckler about the money Rose had to pay back were submitted as evidence.

Rose testified that he used the $37,000 to buy a large quantity of marijuana and cocaine and resold it for a large profit that was to be shared with Sheckler. Rose agreed to testify in hopes of a lesser sentence for his felony drug convictions.

Sheckler's side of the story was different. He testified that he had loaned the money to Rose because Rose said he was going to build a house for his mother. The two first met when Rose brought his car to Sheckler's automotive garage, next to his residence, located on Pea Ridge Road. The two met a few more times then a meeting was held with Sheckler's brothers-in-law, Mark and Andy Lohr. They had known Rose previously.

Continuing his testimony, Sheckler said that he loaned around $37,000 to Rose in late 1999. Rose said be would pay him back in 90 days at 10 percent interest. Sheckler kept the cash in his garage in a large safe.

Sheckler was indicted on March 6 with Rose, Rodney Lamont Robinson, Ladu Rahiem Bolden, and Todd Jeffery Shue. The indictment read: these persons did knowingly and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate and agree together and with others to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams of crack cocaine and 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Sheckler was arrested on March 20, 2001. On March 30, 2001 Sheckler posted a $50,000 property bond with a condominium he owns in Albemarle County.

On April 6, 2001, the United States sought forfeiture of assets against Sheckler. If a conviction had taken place, then Sheckler's 2.01 acres on Pea Ridge Road would have been seized by the U.S. government. Sentencing guidelines for a conviction of a felony drug conspiracy count in this case were 10 years to life in prison and up to a $4 million fine.

Judge Norman K. Moon was the presiding judge." (Steve Oberhauser, The Greene County Record, November 8, 2001)