Commonwealth v. Dickson

By Judge Arthur B. Vieregg

The defendant Paul Edward Dickson is charged with the malicious burning of the First Baptist Church of Kingstowne in Springfield, Virginia, and the statutory burglary of that Church. Mr. Dickson filed a motion to suppress the use of statements and documents furnished by him to various law enforcement officers. He contends that his Sixth Amendment right to counsel was violated.

The facts in this case were fully developed at a suppression hearing conducted on July 21, 2000. I will outline the pertinent facts here. Mr. Dickson has been married to Judy Dickson since 1997.…