Grand jury gets fatal-beating case

The case of a Hanover County man accused of fatally beating an elderly man in August will go to a grand jury.

Jerome Mallory, 42, is charged with second-degree murder stemming from an altercation that left Charles Eugene Houchens, 69, fatally wounded outside his home in Bumpass.

Mallory was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on the charge yesterday in which the Louisa County General District Court judge would have decided whether there was enough evidence for a grand jury to consider setting the case for trial. But Mallory declined the hearing, and Judge Edward K. Carpenter certified the case to the grand jury scheduled to meet Jan. 12.

The night of Aug. 2, Houchens pulled a shotgun on Mallory during an argument, police said. Mallory wrested the shotgun away, then punched and kicked Houchens until the older man fell, authorities said.

Mallory's girlfriend witnessed the incident.

With Houchens on the ground, Mallory kicked him on his head and stole his money, police said.

Mallory then used Houchens' vehicle to take the girlfriend away from the scene.

Mallory called authorities at 1:30 a.m. at the scene of the encounter -- four hours after police believe the fight happened, investigators said.

When deputies arrived to find Houchens unconscious on the road, Mallory claimed he acted in self-defense. Houchens died of his injuries a week later.

Mallory and Houchens were distant cousins who worked part-time jobs together, police said.

Mallory remains in custody at Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange. Second-degree murder is punishable by up to 40 years in prison.
Contact Calvin R. Trice at (540) 932-3674 or .