Bacon's Rebellion

Updates on Chapman’s Dead Dog and Traffic Violations

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by

James A. Bacon
in

Steve. H. Chapman, the 27-year-old challenger to Harry Parrish for the 50th House of Delegates seat, concedes that his opponent may have had nothing to do with misdemeanor charges filed against him for letting his dog run loose eight months ago, the Manassas Journal Messenger has reported. The dog, named Nixon, was killed after escaping from Chapman’s yard last August, but he wasn’t served papers for letting his dog run at large until April, prompting speculation that the charges may have been politically motivated.

However, officers had tried to serve Chapman at his Dale City home five times before they were successful April 20, Prince William County Police Chief Charlie T. Deane wrote in a letter of clarification released Monday. Police denied any political motivation. “I don’t think anyone knew who he was,” said spokesperson 1st Sgt. Kim Chinn, according to the Journal Messenger.

It also turns out that the loose-dog incident was not an isolated one. Chapman was charged twice before with the same offense: Once in March 2000 and again in June 2004, the Journal Messenger stated. Chapman’s police record also includes four speeding tickets and four seatbelt violations since 1996. “When you drive 30,000 miles a year,” said Chapman, who runs a power wash business, “occasionally you’ll get stopped.” But that’s not all. In 1999, Chapman’s driver’s license was suspended because he failed to pay fines and court costs of $80. Later that year, he was charged with driving without an opertor’s license.

With all these revelations, it’s looking pretty hard for Chapman to make the case that he was the victim of hardball politics when charged with lying about his residency in the 50th House district while registering to vote last year. In earlier posts, I was sympathetic to his plight. Given his track record, I’m thinking he sounds like a young man in way too much of a hurry.

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  1. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    In Chapman’s earlier comments about his dear, dead dog, he made it appear that the poor dog was killed and then he was issued a citation (how cruel and heartless!). Seems that’s not the case at all! The dog got loose in August – for his 3rd citation. And wasn’t hit and killed until September. So the dog got loose a 4th time (that we know of!)

    And the speeding excuses. Oy vey! He says, sometimes in residential neighborhoods, you don’t know you’ll get caught. Geez. Sometimes in residential neighborhoods you don’t know when you’ll hit a little kid either!

    Slow down & put on your seat belt, Speed Racer!

  2. Paul Avatar
    Paul

    Anonymous: Oh whatever. Speeding is fun. Don’t get all self-righteous on me…

  3. Ray Hyde Avatar
    Ray Hyde

    Growing up on an island kind o warps your sensibilities about some things. At most, you are going ten miles in any direction, then you turn around and come back, so what is your hurry?

    In the larger world, the same thing is true, just not so evident.

    Just because you are spinning your wheels, doesn’t mean you are going anywhere.

  4. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Paul & Ray –

    What are you two talking about?

  5. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Who cares what they’re talking about!

    At least if common sense prevails in June we won’t have a new arrogant nutcase in the General Assembly. I don’t know how you guys were conned by this upstanding right-to-lifer Republican.

  6. jgh Avatar
    jgh

    To me, the important part is below:

    The owner of the Manassas Park house has since written a letter stating Chapman paid him $125 a month so that Chapman could run for delegate in the 50th District. Chapman is running in a Republican primary against longtime Delegate Harry J. Parrish.

    Being from hampton roads, i don’t know the political climate much in manassas, but would the voters really go in for such carpetbagging? if there was enough ground support for a valid campaign from the right against parrish, couldn’t they atleast find a suitable “local” candidate?

  7. Steven Avatar
    Steven

    If you have a tainted past, don’t run for political office. That’s a hard, but important lesson for a novice candidates to understand and learn. Steve Chapman wasn’t playing with a full deck, but a house candidacy of cards.

    I say forget about those editor’s slight of hand — with negative inuendoes and guilty-till-proven innocent associations.

    There is no such thing as privacy in the modern world. Because police, credit and court records are fair game for any opposition in the digital information age of web logs with the Internet. And are fast becoming a candidate’s scarlet letter.

    ~ the blue dog

  8. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    You had better talk to Phil R. about this, Jim. Phil says that Chapman signed The Pledge. That the young man has had and is having a few troubles here and there and there and there is of little moment. Get this guy a seat in the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Did I mention that he signed The Pledge?

  9. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    I wonder…

    WHEN in September did Chapman “move” to Manassas?

    WHEN in September did his dog get hit and killed in Dale City?

    I haven’t read any articles that have exact dates on these two items. Exact dates could prove to be *very* revealing (or not!).

  10. ben tribbett Avatar
    ben tribbett

    I know nothing first hand.. but that last anon may have just hit on the evidence that Ebert had that we don’t know yet.

  11. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Steve (AKA Speed Jack Herrity) give up, marry, have a family, get a new
    dog, keep the cat and live in Manassas – Harry can’t be delegate longer – BUT you will have to contend with Harry Jr. as long as you don’t pull a Eugene
    Debs and run from jail.

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