For the last year, Massie said, he’s been living

For the last year, Massie said, he’s been living in Rappahannock County, about five miles from Nich' olson’s residence. “I’ve seen him a couple of times . . . Talked to him a couple of times,” he said, adding that • they’d discussed the case now before the jury “in some detail.” He also acknowledged meeting with prosecutor Rick Alderman, Ronald ' Nicholson and Nicholson’s wife Kim the previous Friday to review what - was to be their testimony at the trial.

As to his sentence for the conviction in Richmond of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, Massie noted that has not yet been finalized. After serving a 10-month jail term, which is to begin in January, “my case will be reviewed,” he said.

Constrained by justice

Addressing the deal struck with Massie, Thomas McNally, assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Hen. rico County assigned to prosecution of narcotics violations, explained that the Commonwealth’s Attorney ; in Rappahannock worked out the i plea bargain in Nicholson’s case, z “I felt constrained in the interests of justice to offer (Massie) as good a deal,” he said, adding that : Massie agreed to “testify truthfully on behalf of the Commonwealth” in exchange for a suspended sentence. Massie’s proffer of cooperation at , the time of his arrest resulted in the Commonwealth’s witness remaining at large while investigators were building a case against Peper, Mc•>. Nallysaid.

As to why Peper wasn’t arrested . until August — almost nine months . after Nicholson and Massie were . caught with cocaine — McNally said ■ only: “The investigation was continuing.”

Simpler to do business directly

T Twenty-nine-year-old Ronald ‘ Nicholson said that after meeting r Peper in Lynchburg, he called the 1 dentist and told him “it would be a lot simpler to do business directly” instead of going through Massie. “He said he would think about it,” ‘ Nicholson testified. Two or three