Son of Rep. Nick Rahall (D-Bagdhad, er, W.Va.) faces drunken driving, robbery charges

AP ^

[mountaineer]

PRINCETON, W.Va. -- The son of U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., was arrested Friday on a drunken driving charge and faces burglary and robbery charges in Virginia, police said.

Nick Jo Rahall III, 26, flipped his sport-utility vehicle around 3:30 a.m. on the West Virginia Turnpike in Mercer County when he ran off the road, then tried to overcompensate, State Police said.

Rahall was treated at an area hospital, then released into the custody of state troopers on a burglary and robbery warrant out of Fairfax County, Virginia.

He was arraigned in Mercer County Magistrate Court and charged with second-offense driving under the influence.

Rahall was then brought before a Mercer County Circuit Court judge on a warrant of being a fugitive from justice on the Virginia burglary and robbery charges.

Police said Rahall broke into an Annandale, Va., home Monday and stole money. He was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond and allowed to self-report to Fairfax authorities.

Details about Rahall's first DUI arrest were not immediately available.

"I love my son and will continue to do all I can to help him overcome this battle he has been fighting for years," Congressman Rahall said in a statement. "My son needs his family, everyone's prayers and God's help during this difficult and private time."

[mountaineer]

Washington Post story on little Nick's robbery charge [excerpted]:

The son of a West Virginia congressman has been charged with a home invasion robbery in Annandale, Fairfax County police said yesterday.

The robbery occurred early Monday in the 7300 block of Pine Drive. The victim told police two men entered his bedroom at 2 a.m., held him down and stole $5,000 he had recently been paid. A police affidavit said Melissa Overheu, 29, of Annandale told detectives she was the victim's girlfriend, and that she had told other men that her boyfriend had the cash, which they allegedly split with her after the robbery.

Police charged Overheu and Nick J. Rahall III, 26, of McLean with robbery and did a search of Rahall's home. Rahall is the son of Rep. Nick J. Rahall II (D), a 14-term congressman representing West Virginia's 3rd District. link

Previous FR thread on Rahall's opposition to Iraq war here.

[gunnedah]

The "Mainstream Media" will not play this up and really they shouldnt. The man asked for prayers and this kid needs some help.
Just glad the Bush daughters were not caught dring tho.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Any picture of this turkey?

[mountaineer]

Rahall: Bush Should be Investigated.

[hellinahandcart]

Are their names really Nick Jo I, II, and III?

Not Nicholas Joseph?

[B Knotts]

The son of U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., was arrested Friday on a drunken driving charge and faces burglary and robbery charges in Virginia, police said.

Congressman in training.

[mountaineer]

Here's dad, but I haven't found any mug shots of junior, yet.

Ping to countrydummy!

[Paleo Conservative]

Nick Jo Rahall III, 26, flipped his sport-utility vehicle around 3:30 a.m. on the West Virginia Turnpike in Mercer County when he ran off the road, then tried to overcompensate, State Police said.

Obviously not the son of the race car driver.

[mountaineer]

From the congressman's web site:

Before his election to the Congress, Rahall served as a staff assistant to U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, and as a businessman. Congressman Rahall has three children: Rebecca, Nick Joe III and Suzanne Nicole. link

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Thanks for the photo. He looks degenerate. (Physiognomy still counts!!!!!!!)

[jmax]

"Congressman Rahall said in a statement. "My son needs his family, everyone's prayers and God's help during this difficult and private time."

He says it's a PRIVATE TIME (ie, don't anyone ask questions), wants EVERYONE'S prayers! Can you spell o-x-y-m-o-r-o-n ????

[mountaineer]

In my estimation, a criminal defendant pretty much surrenders his "privacy" when he commits the crime. This guy's crime isn't just DUI, either.

[csvset]

In other West Virginia DUI news.....

Mayor Sentenced
Smithers mayor Eddie Long must resign immediately, that coming after his sentencing to prison time for his role in a scam that extorted money from accused drunken drivers. The sentencing gives the mayor 24 months in prison, a $10,000 fine and three years of supervision after his release. Long was released Tuesday evening on a $50,000 bond. In April a jury found him guilty of mail fraud. The jury says he was guilty of sending a mailing to the DMV to keep police away from hearings against accused drunk drivers.

[countrydummy]

You made my day!!!!!!!!!!! I love it , it is about time! I love it! Like father like son! hahahahahahahahaha

[countrydummy]

PING!

[mountaineer]

I thought you might appreciate it. ;)

[countrydummy]

Considering this fool went not once but twice to the heart of the dragon to makes deals against the US, well I will say and stand behind it, the devil is asking his due! I hope and I pray that folks will finally realize that his son's actions are a direct result of his father's! Come to Beckely, you can find the father in a bar at any given nite!
He gets away with it.....no, I am not being hypocritical, I have the sense to stay home and not drive! This man is a maggott!

[buccaneer81]

Obviously not the son of the race car driver.

Nope. It was Bobby's wife who got the DUI a few years ago (with her kids in the car, no less).

[mountaineer]

Come to Beckely, you can find the father in a bar at any given nite!

Well, that's progress. I thought Shelley was our only congressional representative who actually spent some time in her home state! Mollohan or Rockefeller wouldn't know Weirton from Williamstown.

[mountaineer]

W.Va. Republican Party press release, dated July 28, 2003:

GOP candidate for Congress to announce effort to unseat Rahall

Rick Snuffer wants to be a Congressman who represents the people of West Virginia instead of foreign interests

Richard R. (Rick) Snuffer says the people of the 3rd Congressional District deserve a Congressman who spends time in the district and puts the needs of the people of West Virginia ahead of personal interests in foreign affairs.

Snuffer, 42, of Prosperity, has decided to seek the Republican nomination for the 3rd District Congressional seat, and will make the announcement formal at a press conference in Beckley on Tuesday, July 29th. The event will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the National Guard Armory.

“On the same day President Bush was at the United Nations making the case for war against Iraq, Nick Rahall was in Iraq trying to arrange a meeting with Saddam Hussein,” says Snuffer. “I think that was an insult to the people of the 3rd District, and an insult to all Americans.”

Snuffer says Rahall has ignored the district while pursuing his own interests elsewhere, saying, “I know Rahall has a lot of money in his campaign war chest. But it would be interesting to see how much of that money has come from within his district, and how much has come from interests outside the state.”

Snuffer says he believes the people of the 3rd District agree with President Bush on America’s right to defend itself regardless of whether other countries support that decision.

“Nick Rahall thinks we have to get the permission of the United Nations before we can act,” says Snuffer. “I don’t agree with that, and I don’t think most West Virginians agree with that.”

Snuffer says the economy and good-paying jobs have suffered because of the time and attention Rahall spends on pursuing his own agenda with foreign contacts and interests.

“The people of southern West Virginia deserve a Congressman who gets his priorities straight,” says Snuffer. “They deserve someone who understands that creating good jobs and a solid economic environment are the most important things their representative in Washington can try to provide. What they don’t deserve or need is someone trying to run his own private foreign policy projects, especially when those efforts clash with the foreign policy of the United States as established by the President.”

“Rick Snuffer is the kind of young, eager and intelligent candidate we’re seeing more and more of in the Republican Party in this state,” said GOP Chairman Kris Warner. “The kind of energy and devotion to the people of the 3rd district that Rick brings to the table are just what we need all across West Virginia.”

Snuffer was born and raised in southern West Virginia and began working with his father and grandfather in the family building business at age 11.

“I’m 42, and people are surprised when I say I’ve been involved in the building industry for 31 years,” says Snuffer. “I did it the right way. I started at the bottom and learned every phase of the business on the way as I worked harder and went higher. I went from picking up trash and carrying lumber to eventually bidding out jobs, drawing blueprints, handling the finances, overseeing the crew and subcontractors, and finally moved up to overseeing the company itself.”

Snuffer’s desire to spend more time with his wife, Lori, and their three young sons, David, Christopher and Nathan, led him to groom his younger brother to take over WESco Homes, Inc. In addition to his regular workload, Snuffer served as interim pastor with the United Methodist Church, and has served in almost every capacity of the local church as well as ministering to other denominations.

During the mid-1990s, Snuffer hosted a daily radio program called “Tell A Vision on the Radio,” and taught Bibilical economics.

“As a man of the people and for the people of southern West Virginia, I believe I will serve in a way the people deserve to be served,” says Snuffer. “For me, the people will always come first, and southern West Virginia will not take a backseat to any other state or any other country.”

[countrydummy]

Is there a website for Rick?

[mountaineer]

It looks there is a website currently under construction.

[mewzilla]

Is this sonny's first brush with the long arm of the law?

[oldironsides]

Is he chums with Gov Dean of Vermont? His son seems to make bad decisions and need prayers also

[mewzilla]

Here's another article from a WV newspaper on the arrest. Click here.

[mountaineer]

I don't know whether Nick Joe III has had other legal problems (other than his DUI and robbery charges, that is), but I find it interesting that none of the newspaper articles mentions an occupation. Apparently it's enough to be a congressman's son.

[TroutStalker]

Sounds like lil Nick Jo is the loser.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Sad. Regardless of politics, anybody can have a kid go bad, despite every opportunity being available. Hope he gets his act together.

[TroutStalker]

Old enough to know that being the son of a congressman shouldn't let you get away with breaking the law. And also that his mommy/sissy has a potty mouth almost as bad as hillary's.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I doubt it was a relative.

Of course, as we're saying on another thread, the declining quality of disruptors is killing FR.....

;)

[JesseHousman]

West Virginia is one seriously screwed-up state.

Rahall has a lifetime ACU record of 19 right down there with Byrd-brain and Rockefeller.

"My son needs his family, everyone's prayers and God's help during this difficult and private time."

Wonder which of his many staffers wrote this pitiful sentence for him?

[TroutStalker]

In case you're wondering about all the removed comments, Nick Jo's lil sis Susanne was "defending" her bro mainly using &*%$#'s in every other sentence. Probably be reading about her in the papers soon.

[TroutStalker]

According to the congressman's website, he does have a daughter Suzanne. Perhaps it's another democrat who is looking to challenge him for the seat and attacks the way rats usually do, down and dirty.

[Dan from Michigan]

I'm going to get some flames for this, but I don't blame dad for the 'kid'. I SOLELY blame the 'kid'.

Rahal is an adult. He made his own decisions.

[Dan from Michigan]

I doubt it was a relative.

You never know. My state rep sometimes reads the site.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Physiognomy has great value.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Yeah, most likely. She sounds too young to be ratting around here, and is apparently attractive - its unlikely that an attractive, just getting to college freshman aged girl is going to to be hanging out on FR on a Saturday afternoon.

[ZOTnot]

I heard about this announcement by Snuffer, a minister. I am excited. We have not had a viable opponent in the 3rd District to oppose him since Mary Anne Brewster 'ran' several years ago.

[ZOTnot]

I heard about this announcement by Snuffer, a minister. I am excited. We have not had a viable opponent in the 3rd District to oppose him since Mary Anne Brewster 'ran' several years ago.

[mountaineer]

Oh my gosh, I just logged on and found Suzanne Rahall's "get a life, loser" and "mind your own business" comments to me! LOL! Maybe she should direct her ire at the various newsgathering agencies that originally reported the story and put it on the internet in the first place.

I wonder if she rushed to Rep. Mollhan's defense when one of his kids was arrested in Morgantown, or to Pres. Bush's, when Jenna got caught with the fake ID. Somehow, I doubt it.

[mountaineer]

I tend to agree with you. After all, each of us is responsible for our own actions. FWIW, however, I hear that this particular apple hasn't fallen far from the tree, which is not a good thing when the paternal tree we're talking about a congressional representative.

[skinkinthegrass]

on a drunken driving charge and faces burglary and robbery charges

Congressman in training...Yeah, It seems to be working...drunken driving charge and faces burglary and robbery charges...drunken driving charge-ala "Swimmer" Kennedy and robbery charges-liberal trademarks