Pubdate: Fri, 25 Jan 2002
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Page: B01
Copyright: 2002 The Washington Post Company
Contact:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author: Josh White

JURY SEEKS DEATH FOR DRUG DEALER

Va. Judge To Decide Sentence In Killing

A Prince William County jury recommended yesterday that 20-year-old drug 
dealer Justin Michael Wolfe be executed for hiring a high school friend to 
assassinate his marijuana distributor, a verdict that prosecutors said 
sends a message to young people that drugs destroy lives.

Now, Circuit Court Chief Judge Herman A. Whisenant Jr. must decide whether 
to impose the death penalty or reduce Wolfe's sentence to life in prison 
without the possibility of parole -- an issue the jury mulled for more than 
five hours yesterday. Jurors also sentenced Wolfe to the maximum 30 years 
in prison for conspiring to sell drugs.

Sighing loudly and jerking his arms after the sentence was read, Wolfe hung 
his head and slowly turned to look at his crying family, saying softly: "Wow."

Wolfe was convicted of capital murder this week for his role in the death 
of Daniel Robert Petrole Jr., 21, who was killed in a gangland-style 
shooting on March 15. Although Wolfe did not pull the trigger, jurors 
determined that he hired Owen Merton Barber IV, 22, to kill Petrole to 
erase a debt of about $80,000.

Barber, who went to Chantilly High School with Wolfe, agreed to testify 
against his friend when prosecutors said they would not seek a death 
sentence against him. Barber agreed to plead guilty to murder and could be 
sentenced to life in prison next month. He testified that Wolfe arranged 
for him to follow Petrole after an exchange of drugs for money. Barber 
tracked Petrole for more than 30 miles through Fairfax County and shot him 
nine times in front of Petrole's Bristow town house.

Wolfe testified during both the guilt and sentencing phases of the trial, 
each time speaking of his overindulgent lifestyle of partying, clubbing and 
extensive drug use. He also told jurors of his participation in a vast 
suburban network of young men who sold millions of dollars' worth of 
high-grade marijuana to thousands of customers throughout Northern Virginia.

"I hope this case sends a message, because I think this case is a lot 
bigger than Justin Wolfe," said Commonwealth's Attorney Paul B. Ebert, 
adding that it was difficult for him to seek the death penalty for such a 
young, intelligent man. "The whole lifestyle he lived touched a lot of 
Northern Virginia and probably a lot of suburban America. I hope this case 
will make people realize what drugs can do, that drugs can destroy lives."

Wolfe's attorney, John H. Partridge, said that he was shocked by the 
recommended sentence and that Wolfe's family was devastated. He also said 
he was concerned about the jury's short deliberations earlier in the week, 
when members came back with the capital murder verdict in a little more 
than an hour.

"My client engaged in drug dealing, and that cast a shadow over 
everything," Partridge said. "Justin Wolfe is a tragic figure. He's 
somebody who got caught up in a web of drug dealing, but it snared him in a 
murder-for-hire scheme. And that's tragic, because I believe he's in jail 
for a crime he didn't commit."

Wolfe, who during the trial was called the "Top Gun" drug dealer in the 
Chantilly area, was one of about a dozen dealers who bought expensive, 
high-grade marijuana from Petrole, who had it shipped in from Seattle and 
was selling it to friends. Wolfe, however, was at the top of a branch of 
dealers known for its aggressiveness and greed.

"He is a person who is able to manipulate, a person who is able to direct 
and drive those who are capable and willing to kill and rob," Ebert told 
jurors yesterday morning. "He really is the triggerman. He pulls the 
trigger that sends the triggerman out to do his ill deeds."

So far, Wolfe has shown no public remorse for Petrole's death. In arguing 
for his life during the sentencing phase of the trial, he told jurors that 
he "didn't want to die," then gave a quick chuckle. He later apologized to 
the Petrole family, but only about the drug use. He has maintained his 
innocence in the killing.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Richard A. Conway said yesterday that 
Wolfe did not show any remorse because he is a smart, calculating person 
who could hire someone to kill but wouldn't want to get his own hands dirty.

"In a cowardly, conniving, calculating way, he set in motion a plan, 
ultimately successful, to snuff out another human being as if it were a bug 
on a windshield," Conway said. "And for what? For greed."

Petrole's parents, who sat through the trial but were not in court for the 
verdict or the sentencing recommendation, said last night that they felt 
sorrow when they heard the jury's decision.

Daniel Petrole Sr., a retired Secret Service agent who guarded former 
presidents Carter and Reagan, did not want the death penalty for Wolfe. He 
said tears came to his eyes when he heard it had been recommended.

"Believe me, there's no joy in any of this for our family," Petrole said. 
"We respect the decision of the jury. Our hearts and our prayers go out to 
Justin Wolfe's family, and I will continue to pray for Justin Wolfe."

Petrole's girlfriend of eight years, Jenny Scott, 21, a senior at Virginia 
Tech, left before the jury recommended a sentence but said the sentence 
does not matter.

"Either way, Danny isn't going to come back," she said. "He's still dead. 
And over what? Some money and some drugs. It's just so sad."
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