Tag: Walter Korte

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In brief: Looking for Mr. Sunglasses, sunshine kids, Dewberry’s digs, and more

Photographer Eze Amos snapped Sunglasses, left, arriving with a Vanguard America contingent. Sunglasses was later spotted attacking DeAndre Harris in the Market Street Garage. Eze Amos

Where’s Red Beard—and Sunglasses?

Although four people have been convicted in the August 12 assault of DeAndre Harris in the Market Street Parking Garage, video and photographs from that day show there were other attackers joining the fray who have not been arrested—or even identified.

Charlottesville police photo of Red Beard.
CPD image of Sunglasses.

On February 14, Charlottesville police asked for the public’s help in finding the men online activists have dubbed Red Beard and Sunglasses: “Our detectives have worked tirelessly and exhausted all efforts to identify the other two men more than a year later, and hope the public’s assistance can help bring the assailants to justice and close this case.”

That appeal spurred former mayor Dave Norris to look at his photos from August 12, and he discovered a picture of Red Beard sitting near a helmeted man. Norris posted the photo on Facebook and wondered “if the guy in the helmet next to him knows his identity.

 

 

Dave Norris took this shot of Red Beard taking a break at Unite the Right.

 

 

 

 

Sunglasses and others have shields up as they appear to be leaving Market Street Park. Eze Amos

 

 

 

 

We took a spin through our own August 12 archives, and found a photo of Sunglasses carrying a Vanguard America shield and flag, and another of him with some  of his fascist pals.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Declan Hickey at 970-3542 or Crimestoppers at 977-4000.

Quote of the week

“You either believe in equity or you don’t.” —Mayor Nikuyah Walker on why tax increases are necessary to fund affordable housing and school equity

In brief

While John Dewberry was feathering his nest in Atlanta, Charlottesvillians continue to contemplate a less appealing Dewberry project. Skyclad

Dewberry doings

As the skeletal Landmark in downtown Charlottesville continues to molder, its owner, John Dewberry, 55, has been refurbishing a 1924 neo-classical condo in Atlanta with his 30-year-old bride. The New York Times featured the Dewberry digs recently, but for those searching for clues about movement on our historic eyesore, the only mention of Charlottesville is to note an 18th-century Hepplewhite sideboard the couple found here to complete their décor.

No. 1 seed

Despite Virginia’s disappointing 10-point loss to Florida State March 15 in the ACC semifinals, the Cavaliers got the top seed in the NCAA South Region and will play No. 16-seed Gardner-Webb University March 22 in Columbia, South Carolina. We’ll try not to think about UVA’s encounter last year with a  No. 16—the UMBC Retrievers.

Youth in revolt

Eze Amos
Protest organizer Gudrun Campbell. Eze Amos

About 100 local kids ditched class for a cause March 15, when they joined thousands of students across America in a coordinated climate strike. Carrying signs with slogans such as “There’s No Plan(et) B,” they assembled on the Downtown Mall to protest and march. Gudrun Campbell, an 11-year-old sixth grader at Walker Upper Elementary and area event organizer, said she wants comprehensive education on climate change for grade schoolers, “so children grow up understanding the issue and that it’s based solely on science.”

Litigious candidate

Bryce Reeves Publicity photo

State Senator Bryce Reeves has threatened to sue his 17th District Republican challenger Rich Breeden for defamation, according to Daily Progress reporter Tyler Hammel. Reeves also filed suit in his unsuccessful 2017 bid for the GOP lieutenant governor nomination, saying an email that falsely alleged an extramarital affair came from the cellphone of opponent Jill Vogel’s husband.

Home sentence

Walter Korte, the ex-UVA film studies professor who pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography in 2018, was granted permission March 18 to serve the remainder of his 12-month sentence—which he started in October—from home. The 75-year-old has no prior offenses, according to his attorney.

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In brief: Diverging diamond, Way’s passing, educator arrested and more

Six road projects, one $36-million package

The Virginia Department of Transportation has identified six upgrades for Albemarle roads, and will choose one contractor
to design and build them for $35.9 million. Citizens can check out and weigh in on the projects from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Western Albemarle High School on Wednesday, October 10, and at Albemarle High on Thursday, October 11.

  • I-64 and U.S. 29 interchange: Eliminates crash-prone loop exit from U.S. 29 south to I-64 east, and installs two left-turn lanes on 29.
  • I-64 and U.S. 250 at Richmond Road: While left-turn lanes are being installed above, this project eliminates the current left turns across traffic onto 64 with a tricky diverging diamond interchange, like the one at Zion Crossroads, which allows lefts without crossing oncoming traffic.
  • U.S. 29 at Fontaine Avenue: Reduces number of lane changes needed to exit 29 north to Fontaine.
  • U.S. 250 at Route 151: Builds a roundabout at the collision-heavy intersection of Alcohol Alley and Rockfish Gap Turnpike near Afton.
  • Route 20 at Proffit and Riggory Ridge roads: Adds a roundabout at this intersection.
  • Berkmar Drive Extended. Adds a quarter-mile connector with Rio Mills Road

 

Quote of the week

“We knew all the details. Maurice always told the councilors.”—Bob Fenwick on former police chief Al Thomas remaining on the public payroll, according to the Daily Progress

In brief

Teacher’s aide indicted

The man knocked to the ground by Deputy Police Chief Greg Jenkins at an August 30 Albemarle County School Board meeting has now been indicted on a felony charge of assaulting a police officer. Michael Reid was among dozens of protesters calling for the school board to ban Confederate imagery from its dress code, and was brought to the hospital after the scuffle with Jenkins, who accused Reid of assaulting him.

Another Miller Center departure

Doug Blackmon. Wikimedia Commons

Douglas Blackmon, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Slavery by Another Name, follows two other senior historians in leaving the Miller Center. The former director of public programs declined to stay after his contract ended, and wrote in an email to the center’s CEO, obtained by the Cavalier Daily, “our ships are traveling on very different bearings.” Like Melvyn Leffler and William Hitchcock, Blackmon also cited the appointment of former Trump aide Marc Short as a factor.

Korte sentenced

Former UVA film studies professor Walter Korte, 75, was ordered to jail October 2 for possessing two child porn images. Korte, who was sentenced to 12 months, had requested electronic home incarceration, but Judge Humes Franklin denied the request. Korte was arrested in 2016 after tossing thousands of legal pornographic images in a UVA dumpster.

Federal lawsuit

Ira Socol, the Albemarle school division’s former chief technology and innovation officer, says he was wrongfully punished for his unauthorized purchase of school furniture earlier this year. He is suing the school board and Superintendent Matt Haas for firing him without a hearing, violating his right to due process, breach of contract, and defamation, according to the complaint.

Preacher, public servant dies

Courtesy Rob Bell

The Reverend Peter Way, who served on Albemarle’s Board of Supervisors and school board, and was the 58th District delegate in the General Assembly, died October 6 at 82. The Keene resident was elected to the House in 1991 in a seven-vote squeaker.

After his retirement from elected office in 1997, he founded the Conservative Coalition, a Tea Party forerunner. “He was a passionate fiscal conservative,” says Paul Wright, who worked with Way in the coalition in the late ’90s.

Way was passionate about his religious beliefs as well, says Wright, but he was not judgmental toward those who did not share his beliefs. “He was one of the good guys in politics.”

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In brief: Professor sentenced, county crowdsourcing, Anthem’s return and more

Walter Korte leaves court August 8, 2017, after a judge holds off accepting a plea agreement. Staff photo

Korte sentenced to 12 months

With a handful of UVA colleagues sitting in the courtroom, film studies professor Walter Korte, 74, was sentenced to five years in prison with all but 12 months suspended after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography.

Korte was busted in August 2016 when he was spotted dumping thousands of porn images in a UVA dumpster. His lawyer, Bonnie Lepold, argued that despite his predilection for pornography, the images were all “lawful pornography and erotica.” He did not engage in any inappropriate behavior with children and had no criminal record, she said, and in the two years since his arrest, no one came forward to allege such behavior.

“He was not a child pornographer and had no interest in that,” she said. Lepold asked that he be sentenced to the five weeks he’s already served in jail or home incarceration with electronic monitoring.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Amanda Galloway said Korte was not a threat, and she acknowledged his lack of criminal history. But she wanted a year to send a message that child porn possession will be punished regardless of one’s age or position in the community.

Judge Humes Franklin added 10 year’s good behavior to Korte’s sentence, and when asked about the home incarceration, he said, “I want to sleep on it.”

“We’re looking for a middle ground of security in the future.”—Interim City Manager Mike Murphy at the August 20 City Council meeting, on the topic of security for August 12, 2019.

Anthem returns

After dumping the Charlottesville area individual marketplace last year and leaving Optima as the area’s sole insurance provider, Anthem says it’s re-entering the market here and in 41 other Virginia localities in 2019. And in related news, Charlottesville couple Steve Vondra and Bonnie Morgan joined a federal lawsuit filed by Chicago and other cities suing President Donald Trump and his administration for intentionally and unlawfully sabotaging the Affordable Care Act.

Foxfield feud

Plaintiffs challenging the Foxfield Racing Association’s plan to sell the 179-acre Marianna de Tejeda property, bequeathed to perpetuate horse racing in Albemarle, were in court August 17. They were represented by William Hurd, the same attorney who thwarted plans to close Sweet Briar College. The judge will issue her ruling August 28.

MoJo’s first day

There’s no getting away from the Confederate statue issue, as former city manager Maurice Jones discovered August 20 on his first day on the job as town manager in Chapel Hill, where protesters at the University of North Carolina toppled Silent Sam.

Charlottesville has its own Silent Sam. file photo

GoFundAlbemarle

The county has approved plans for a boat landing and trailhead on the Rivanna River at Rio Mills Road, as well as plans to crowdsource the $700,000 needed to open the 20-acre park, according to Charlottesville Tomorrow.

Pipeline halt

A federal appeals court nullified two permits for Dominion Energy’s $6 billion, 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which has temporarily ceased construction. One of the authorizations that judges with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out was a right-of-way permit for the pipeline to run underneath the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Back to legislate

Governor Ralph Northam has called for a special session of the General Assembly to convene August 30 to redraw districts of the House of Delegates. A panel of federal judges ruled June 26 that 11 districts were racially gerrymandered and must be redone by the end of October.

New Hoos

file photo

Though the majority of the University of Virginia’s Class of 2022 will consist of white girls from right here in the Old Dominion, it’ll be the most diverse class in UVA’s history.

Along with “record high” racial diversity at 34 percent—or 1,294 minority students compared to 1,247 last year—the university is also “particularly pleased” that 11 percent of the incoming class are first-generation college students, said UVA spokesperson Wes Hester.

Here’s what the newest crop of Wahoos looks like:

Total number of
first-years: 3,798

Female: 56%

Male: 44%

In-state: 65%

Out-of-state: 35%

African American: 9.1%

Minority total: 34%

First generation: 11.1%

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Korte’s plea: Judge rebuffs offer, sends child porn case to another judge

Former University of Virginia film professor Walter Korte, center, leaves court in November with attorneys Bonnie Lepold and Bruce Williamson, after a judge rejected a plea agreement. Photo by Lisa Provence

Without expounding on why, Albemarle Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Higgins rejected a plea agreement from a former UVA professor and the prosecution November 14, and said the matter will be heard by a different judge.

Walter Korte, 74, who had a long and distinguished career at the University of Virginia as a film expert, faced two counts of possession of child pornography. The plea agreement was presented in court in August. At that time, Higgins expressed reservations about the plea, asked for a pre-sentencing report and wanted to see the two images for which Korte was charged.

The case started during the summer of 2016 when Korte disposed of his porn collection in a dumpster outside Bryan Hall, where UVA’s English department is housed. University police staked out the dumpster and observed him tossing plastic bags on a couple of occasions.

Most of the thousands of images were legal, adult porn, but among the adult fare were images of clothed and naked young males—and magazines with Korte’s home address, according to Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Amanda Galloway in court in August.

The prosecution sent questionable images to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which found one known child pornographic image. The state attorney general’s office determined that nearly 700 images were child erotica, which depicts no nudity or sexual activity and is legal. The ages for pubescent males in 16 images could not be determined, according to Galloway.

In the plea, the parties agreed that Korte, who has no criminal record, no hands-on victims and whom a psychological assessment determined was not a threat, would serve a maximum of 12 months in jail and register as a sex offender.

Galloway told the judge that if Korte had been convicted of one count, sentencing guidelines called for probation and no sex offender registry.

“The court is going to reject the plea,” and it will be assigned to another judge, said Higgins three months later.

The agreement was either too lenient—or too harsh, opines legal expert David Heilberg. “Judge Higgins wasn’t of a mind to accept it,” he says.

Heilberg says there are two types of plea agreements. A judge usually accepts a recommendation plea but is not bound to follow it.

“What Higgins rejected was an appropriate plea,” he surmises. That means the commonwealth and the defense agree on the appropriate way for the case to come out, and the court can accept or reject it, but can’t change it, he explains. “Judge Higgins must have felt it restricted her too much.”

Korte will get a new judge at the December 4 docket call.

 

Related links:

Plea postponed: Judge wants report, photos in Korte child porn possession case 

Invalid warrant: Judge allows evidence in Korte case anyway
UVA prof charged with child porn possession

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Plea postponed: Judge wants report, photos in Korte child porn possession case

Walter Korte leaves court August 8, 2017, after a judge holds off accepting a plea agreement. Staff photo

 

One year after the arrest of former UVA film studies professor Walter Korte for the possession of child pornography sent the local cinephile community reeling, he appeared in court August 8 ready to enter a plea—and the judge asked for more information before okaying the agreement.

During his 46-year-career, Korte, 73, advised the fledgling Virginia Film Festival for many years, received a Fulbright Fellowship at the University of Milan, and was an expert on the work of Luchino Visconti and the Italian cinema.

The case began last summer when UVA police discovered a cache of porn in a dumpster on Grounds behind Bryan Hall on subsequent days. “The vast majority of the pictures depicted adult, transgender subjects, but a number of images included both clothed and unclothed young males,” said Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Amanda Galloway.

Officers also found magazines and junk mail with Korte’s address.

Police set up surveillance on the dumpster, and on August 1, 2016, spied Korte at 6:43am dumping bags filled with more images. Yet another dump August 2 included poster boards of ‘70s teen heartthrob Leif Garrett, Galloway told Judge Cheryl Higgins in Albemarle Circuit Court.

Korte was arrested August 2, charged with two counts of child porn possession and held in jail for over a month. In February, Higgins ruled that the search warrant did not support probable cause because most of the images were legal adult porn or teens not engaged in sex acts, but she allowed the admission of the thousands of images as evidence anyway.

“The vast majority of the images contained legal, adult pornography,” said Galloway.

Questionable images were sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to be run against their child pornography database, which found one known child porn image, and to the state attorney general’s office, “which identified 695 images as legal ‘child erotica,’ not meeting the definition of child pornography under Virginia law,” Galloway told the judge.

The AG’s office also found 16 potential child porn images of pubescent males, but none matched the national database, their ages could not be determined and the images came from adult porn sites, said the prosecutor.

During the yearlong investigation, no hands-on victims were found, and a psychosexual evaluation determined Korte was not a threat, said Galloway. Because he had no criminal history and because of his age, the commonwealth agreed to a plea in which he could serve a maximum of 12 months and would become a registered sex offender, she said.

Galloway also pointed out that had Korte been convicted of possessing one image from the national database, sentencing guidelines would recommend probation, no incarceration and no sex offender registration. “The agreement allows for finality,” she said.

Higgins, however, was not ready to close the case. “I am concerned about the court being tied” to the agreement, she said. She also said she had “great reservations” about the photos, and asked to see the two alleged child porn images, which are under seal, and to have a pre-sentence report.

Korte will be back in court November 14 to learn her decision.

 

 

 

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Invalid warrant: Judge allows evidence in Korte case anyway

Former UVA film studies professor Walter Korte was well-regarded by many film students and aficionados in town. Albemarle County police

Ruling that the search warrant that led to the arrest of former UVA film studies professor Walter Korte was invalid—and that the two images used as the basis for the warrant in fact weren’t child pornography—Judge Cheryl Higgins nonetheless allowed the admission of the photos, citing a “good faith” exemption for police seeking warrants.

Korte, 73, was arrested August 2 and charged with two counts of child porn possession. He was held without bail until September 6.

The arrest followed a four-day police investigation after pornographic images were discovered in a dumpster on UVA Grounds behind Bryan Hall July 29, according to Korte’s motion to suppress.

The UVA officer, who found hundreds of pornographic images, came back on subsequent days and found three Time magazines with Korte’s address, as well as UVA letterhead with his name among the photos.

University police staked out the dumpster August 1 and captured Korte on video, according to the complaint.

In court February 8, Korte’s attorney Bonnie Lepold argued that the evidence obtained from the search warrant should be suppressed because the warrant for Korte’s Bryan Hall office and Fosters Branch Road home was obtained without probable cause.

Albemarle police Detective Mark Belew requested a search warrant August 2, and his affidavit cited UVA investigator George Vieira, who “determined two of the images were clearly of prepubescent males lewdly naked or involved in sexual acts,” says the motion.

The two images were not attached to the affidavit, and “nowhere on the affidavit did it state the images were of child pornography,” said Lepold. Without the images, the magistrate “might as well rubberstamp” search warrants, she added.

“Our position is the rest of the warrant is insufficient,” she said. “It talks about pornography and separately about juveniles, but says nothing about child pornography.”

Said Lepold, “There is no image that even comes close to involving a sex act. Near nudity is not sufficient under the law.”

And most of the images were adult porn, which, she pointed out, are legal.

To allow the warrant because Belew relied upon another officer’s characterization was “disingenuous and, quite frankly, frightening,” she said.

Higgins recessed for several hours to review the images, and said the search warrant was unsupported by probable cause, but denied the motion to suppress because of the “good faith” exception.

Legal expert David Heilberg says, “If the images are not child pornography, this sounds like an adjudication of innocence on those charges. This is better than getting the evidence suppressed for the defense.”

Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Tracci said in an e-mail, “The possession of child pornography charges against Mr. Korte have not been nolle prossed.” He declined to say whether the prosecution has other evidence.

Korte led UVA’s film studies program since 1970, was an authority on Luchino Visconti films and the Italian cinema, and was a long-time adviser to the Virginia Film Festival. He resigned from the university November 1.

He is scheduled for trial May 19.

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In brief: Berkmar Bridge, underage drinking, stinky festival and more

Getting busy

Construction on the Berkmar Drive extension and the Berkmar Bridge is well underway, with VDOT’s goal of substantially finishing both by the end of the year and officially completing them next summer, months before the
October 2017 deadline. A team of VDOT employees and representatives from a project delivery advisory panel suited up September 22 to check out the progress. Here’s what they learned:

  •  60,000 cubic tons of dirt excavated
    from the Rio Road interchange on
    Route 29 were used as fill for the
    2.2-mile road extension, which will
    have a mixed-use path and sidewalk
    on either side.
  • The next and final steps for the road
    will be installing drain pipes, piling
    seven inches of stone, compacting and
    paving three layers of asphalt that
    will add another seven inches.
  • A 35mph speed limit will be imposed.
  • VDOT workers were placing the
    bridge’s final girders last week. Next,
    the forms that will support the
    concrete deck while the concrete
    cures will be installed on top of
    the girders.
  • The overall Berkmar project cost is
    $38.2 million.
  • Hard hats and reflective vests are
    quite warm.

Follow us on Twitter @cvillenews_desk for more photos and videos of the tour.

Guv goes shopping

mcauliffe stripes

Terry McAuliffe had a tough choice to make September 22 at Mincer’s—which striped polo shirt to buy. He was in town to talk at the Center for Politics, do lunch with Larry Sabato and Teresa Sullivan and rally the troops at Dem headquarters on the Downtown Mall.

Male contraceptive researcher dies

UVA reproductive biologist John Herr, 68, died September 17 of a heart attack shortly after running a 10K. He was a prolific inventor, filing scores of patents. Among them were SpermCheck, a home male fertility test, and a reversible male implant that blocks sperm. 

Habeas hearing

Convicted murderer George Huguely’s attorney, Jon Sheldon, was in court September 26, and said an improper jury instruction resulted in Huguely being unlawfully imprisoned. The judge will rule on motions in the former UVA lacrosse player’s writ of habeas corpus.

Korte hospitalized

Former UVA film studies professor Walter Korte, who is charged with two counts of possessing child pornography, did not appear in court September 26. NBC 29 reports that Korte was granted bond September 9 and attempted suicide two days later. On September 15, he was listed as being in serious condition at UVA Medical Center. His next court appearance is October 24.       

Rob Bell’s seat in play

With Bell running for attorney general in 2017, candidates are already lining up for his 58th District seat. Greene resident Mike Allers, a fourth-grade teacher, announced September 21 he’ll seek the Republican nomination.

The downside of winning Saturday’s game

Ten 18- and 19-year-olds were arrested around UVA for underage possession of alcohol, along with one fake ID charge, according to Charlottesville police reports.

DIP triple play

Kevin Anthony Glover, 26, was arrested for being drunk in public September 23 on Sixth Street SE, September 24 on 14th Street NW and September 25 on Wertland Street, according to city police reports.

$25,000 victory

From left to right, Sepehr Zomorodi, Zachery Davis, Payam Pourtaheri, Ameer Shakeel, Joseph Frank and Dr. Mark Kester are current members of the AgroSpheres team. Courtesy of Payam Pourtaheri
From left to right, Sepehr Zomorodi, Zachery Davis, Payam Pourtaheri, Ameer Shakeel, Joseph Frank and Dr. Mark Kester are current members of the AgroSpheres team. Courtesy of Payam Pourtaheri

AgroSpheres, a local bioremediation startup reported on in C-VILLE’s September 21 issue, was the winner of Virginia Velocity Tour’s business pitch competition in Charlottesville September 23 and gets $25k in grant money.

Best press release goes to…

An e-mail titled “26th Annual Garlic Festival Promises a Stinkin’ Good Time” graced C-VILLE inboxes this week to advertise an event that must truly reek. The two-day October 8-9 festival at Rebec Vineyards in Amherst attracts winos and garlic fanatics from far and wide.

Quote of the Week: “We need people who can get things done. I’m tired of partisanship. We need someone who can work with the new president—Hillary.”—Governor Terry McAuliffe weighs in on the 5th District congressional race.

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In brief: New bridge, 10-story luxury hotel, funky smoothies and more…

Upon completion of the Berkmar Bridge, one can drive from the former Shoppers World, now called 29th Place, up to CHO without setting wheels on 29. Courtesy of VDOT

Good news for smoothie fans

Charlottesville has no reports of hepatitis A cases like the outbreak that struck 28 Tropical Smoothie Cafe patrons throughout Virginia that was thought to be caused by contaminated Egyptian strawberries, according to the local Virginia Department of Health office.

Understudy steps in

walter korte

While UVA drama professor Walter Francis Korte Jr., charged with two counts of possessing child pornography earlier this month, is still being held at the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail, two of his classes—Cinema as an Art Form and Film Aesthetics—are now being taught by Matthew Marshall, another professor in the department, according to the Cavalier Daily. History of Film, which Korte was also scheduled to teach this semester, is no longer listed for students.

A little more time

Governor Bob McDonnell's conviction on 11 counts of corruption highlighted Virginia's lax policies on the acceptance of gifts by public officials. Photo: Scott Elmquist.
Photo: Scott Elmquist

U.S. Supreme Court justices unanimously ruled to reverse former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell’s 11 corruption convictions in June, sending his case back to Richmond’s 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to decide whether there is enough evidence for a retrial. His council and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are now asking the appeals court to give the U.S. Justice Department three more weeks to further prepare and consider its next steps before taking any action.

Hotel hot spot

unnamed
Rendering courtesy of CARR City Centers

Developers announced August 29 that they have secured a $25.8 million loan for a 10-story luxury hotel on West Main Street. As part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection Hotels, the space will feature 150 guest rooms and suites, a restaurant and 3,000 square feet of meeting space. It will be located next to Uncommon, West Main’s newest digs. Construction is slated to begin this fall, and the hotel is expected to open in 2017.

Sexual assault details

The victim of the August 19 sexual assault occurring on Emmet Street, possibly between Thomson Road and Jefferson Park Avenue, recently told Charlottesville Police that “a couple of people” on the street took her home after the assault. Police ask for anyone who aided the victim or noticed anything suspicious in the area between 11:30pm and 1am to contact Detective Regine Wright-Settle at 970-3274.

Bridging the gap

Upon completion of the Berkmar Bridge, one can drive from the former Shoppers World, now called 29th Place, up to CHO without setting wheels on 29. Courtesy of VDOT

While the U.S. 29 and Rio Road grade-separated intersection got all the attention this summer, the Berkmar Drive Extended project, parallel to Seminole Trail, has been chugging along. Upon completion, one can drive from the former Shoppers World, now called 29th Place, up to CHO without setting wheels on 29. And VDOT has documented the bridge construction over the Rivanna with pretty nifty time-lapse photography. The connecting road beams are supposed to go in this week.

  • 2.3 miles long
  • Costs $54.5 million
  • Two lanes with four-lane right of way for future expansion
  • Includes bike lane, sidewalk and multi-use path

By the Numbers: Power struggle

Dominion Virginia Power was officially given the go-ahead August 23 to begin

a $140 million power line burial project across the state.

  • 400 miles of power lines buried
  • $350,000 per mile
  • $6 extra per year that each customer will pay
  • 50 cents added to average customer bill starting next month

Quote of the Week:

“Every year he has new evidence about why he shouldn’t be in jail in Virginia.” —Delegate Rob Bell about Jens Soering’s petition for absolute pardon.

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UVA prof charged with child porn possession

Former UVA film studies professor Walter Korte was well-regarded by many film students and aficionados in town. Albemarle County police

UVA drama professor Walter Korte Jr., 72, was arrested August 2 and charged with two counts of possessing child pornography. He is currently being held in Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail without bond.

During his 46-year career, Korte served as the director of film within the Drama Department and has been recognized as an authority on Luchino Visconti films and the Italian cinema.

Korte was the the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship at the University of Milan, a program that provides funding for those who wish to advance their research and university teaching. Korte also advised the Virginia Film Festival for many years since it began in 1988, but has not been involved with the festival for at least the past eight years, says UVA spokesperson Anthony de Bruyn.

“When I was the director of the Virginia Film Festival, I’d often hear from people who were UVA alums in the film industry say that Walter’s classes and teaching had inspired them,” says Richard Herskowitz, now director of Cinema Pacific at the University of Oregon. “He lived and breathed film.”

According to Herskowitz, Korte’s office was filled to the brim with film books that there was hardly a place to sit. “He was considered a well respected man and very knowledgeable,” says Herskowitz.

According to UVA’s student syllabus, Korte had plans to teach two classes for the 2016 fall semester: Cinema As An Art Form and History of Film I.
Korte has been placed on administrative leave by the university and his professor profile has been removed from the Media Studies department web page. 

Updated 4:22pm that Korte is not currently involved with the Virginia Film Festival.