Under a plea agreement approved by Judge Robert “Pat” Doherty, Former Roanoke City Council member Alfred Dowe pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of obtaining money by false pretenses as part of a double-billing scandal that forced him to resign from the council last February.

Dowe was sentenced to six months in jail on each count, with all of the time suspended. He must pay a $1,000 fine and perform 200 hours of community service, and he will be on probation for two years.

Dowe had been charged with 11 counts of obtaining money by false pretenses -- eight felonies and three misdemeanors.

What's your take on the final outcome of the case?

Gee Mr. Dowe, does that slap on your wrist burn a little??  Charged with 8 felonies and gulity of 3 misdemeanors??  I am sure no one reading this story is surprised at the "justice" decided against Mr. Dowe.  After all, he's not just a regular joe.  He was a council member.  That apparently places him somewhat above the "regular" laws and punishment.  Lesson here:  if you plan on breaking any laws, make sure you have friends in high places. 

 He got preferred treatment that others would not have and that's WRONG.  The law should apply equally to all because no one is any better than anyone else.  Seems corruption is alive and well in Roanoke VA just as it is in Washington D.C.  Is it any wonder people are sick of the government and all of its favoritism.

Alfred Dowe should be punished for his 8 felonies, just as others would have been. He stole money from either the State or the City, whichever way you want to look at it, and all he gets is a small fine, a slap on the wrist, and probation. The Judge on this case should be ashamed, and possibly impeached, although he resigned like the coward Nixon.

The law does not apply equally to all. Is it a surprise that some people are treated differently when this fact exists? I believe it won't be too long before the public wakes up and puts a stop to it.  

Not anything new among the ruling class in the Roanoke Valley. Many may recall the Vinton fiasco of years past where the Police Chief and his number one man were guilty of a host of felonies and other nefarious deeds but were never even tried. Rick Foutz and Bill Brown were the names of these two crooked law enforcement officers.

I think it is the fact that if they do anything terrible to any of these "rulers" they may pull the string and the whole fabric of what keeps them in power will come undone. 

The time will come when laws will be made like the ones here in Florida called Sunshine Laws. It makes it almost impossible to do anything underhanded and get away with it. At least, to the tune of having it exposed. There is still remnants of the "Good ol' Boy" network still hanging on here but they at least get exposed.

The lawyers in the Valley weild most of the power and that is a cabal that keeps everything underhanded under wraps. Lawyers, of course, are prosecutors, judges and the entire court system of lawyers, of which they pledge their allegiance. Cases are determined and agreed to far in advance of showing up in court.

no big surprise here...lib judge, lib city, lib guy is a felon gets nothing...makes ya kind of wonder why people get involved in illegal matters,

THEY DO NOT GET PUNISHED !!!!!!!!!!

This is sad, just because he was a City Council member he gets pretty much a warning.  Seriously the justice system there is gone, people need to take a long hard look at what they are doing and who they are electing into an office or postion.  This poor excuse of a man STOLE $3,042.78 in taxpayer money and he gets a $1,000 fine, ARE YOU SERIOUS? So your telling me, I should steal about $15,000 and only pay a $1,000 fine? Oh wait, I'm not a council member.  Everyone who is involved in this case should be ashamed of themselves.  This is a let down to the people and to the community.  Sure there are more important issues such as the rise of drugs in Roanoke, but when you have corruption in positions such as his it needs to be addressed and corrected.  Almost 10 years ago I was charged with Reckless Driving and I had more of a punishment than him.  Yes, I immediately regretted the mistfortunate and idiotic incident and I accepted full blame.  The judge took the word of a cop who lied in court, who never read me my Rights, therefore was illegal to use anything I said in the car in court, which he did.  This cop could magically see through a hill that was a mile away.  I'm sure if he read's this, he'll remember, but I'm past that, however I can not accept that my punishment was loss of license for 6 months, $2,500 fine and 60 days in jail-30 suspended.  Today there is too much of this "warning" slap on the wrist stuff going on to people such as Dowe.  The "system" there is pathetic and should be ashamed, you have done the community wrong.  It makes me glad that I only come back to visit.  Now days I make my paychecks through taxpayers money too, but see Mr. Dowe, I earn that money.  I've done 2 tours in Afghanistan and 1 in Iraq.  You got away with robbery, when you should be sitting in a cell for Larceny.  I really hope that the people of Roanoke take a stand and there is a Reform of the system there, because if not, this will continue and the "average joe" will be taken advantage of and those others will be able to do anything they want.  Congratulations Mr. Dowe, your Pathetic.  You may have accepted responsibility and regret it too but as I learned, its a mistake that stays there with but the difference between you and I is that I am not a criminal.  Mine was a traffic incident, yours is much more than theft.  You betrayed alot of people who put trust in you and thats a hard lump to swallow.  Enjoy your freedom as you should be sitting on one of the Correction Facilities wearing Orange.

When I was 18 I broke the law by writting 7 checks that I stole from somebody else of whom I did not know personally. Of course I was caught and as Dowe did I confessed my quilt and I too paid back what I stole to the owner before I went b4 the Judge. None of the checks were over $120 but the charge of forgery & uttering is a felony & as such that was what I was convicted of. I was sentenced to 1 year for each charge to the state pen but what seemed like eternity from being lectured by the Honorable Judge Hoback Sr. (RIP) on being a delinquent and such, he ran my sentence concurrently. I ended up pulling 8 months in the County Jail and placed on 5 years probation. I had always felt I was very fortunate to get that "light" sentence and stayed out of trouble since my release (28 yrs ago) especially since Judge Hoback was considered a "hangmans judge" back in the day, he generally cut no slack if u were b4 him. As a convicted felon I can not vote, hold a public office nor own/possess a weapon. I did my time & have been a model citizen since that day but I have to live with the stygma of having a felony over my head for the rest of my life. Up till today I have delt with this stigma but now I feel that I been royally screwed by the so called justice system. Everybody in that court room have showed their true colors starting with Special Prosecutor Christopher Russell & Judge Doherty of which both should resign their postions. In fact this case should of never been tried by anybody that normally works the circuit in Roanoke being that Dowe was on the Council which to me shows that this sentence was worked out b4 trial or I would of thought that the defense would of asked for a change of venue, but I am not a lawyer & I did not follow this case day by day. But it does make me wonder why Dowe paid double than what he took and wouldn't that make the books out of whack if he truly paid it back in double?I guess you might even say he bought his freedom with that extra money.

Councilman David Trinkle I ask you, from a "laymans point of view", do you really think that this was "equitable"? I think if you truly believe that statement then sir u r unfit to serve & represent the City of Roanoke. It is so nice of you to be able to put all the blame on Doherty too, but I assure you this case wont be put behind us as soon as you would like. All this has done is given city council a free rein knowing there is no consequence for stealing taxpayer money. Btw City Council, do the right thing with that "extra" money, donate it to a charity that will benefit a worthy cause like helping sick/dying kids in the hospital or of the like. This city does not need nor want bribe money.

 although it is unexcusable for alfred dowes action,  but lets be real hes not the first to steal from our fair city of Roanoke, folks been stealing since the begining of time, I donot condone his actions, or the fact that he got  a slap on the wrist, but face it as many times that they have flashed his picture on the tv, youd think he was a mass murderer,  now lets think of it this way. we have folks that have deliberately gotten drunk , driven and killed people,  more recently the tanglewood mall accident that took aworkmans life,  you can count on 1 hand how many times you saw these drunken murders on the news,  you talk about a slap on the wrist, what that heck was that.  do you think those folks punishment fit the crime,  no it memorial day,  what you gonna remember a few dollars or  a life.  look like here in Roanoke its kinda twisted,   I say focus people,  look at the crime and beyond,  what it is were all looking at. now if you really wanna get real ,we can go a little bit deeper,  for example.. young man,  busted 8 times for possession of marijuana,  never served a day in jail,  pending case right now, are we talking justice,  lets hear about some real crimes and punishment, Instead of wasting more roanoke tax dollars on this relatively low key crime, bet if you really wanna look closer youd find some bigger thieves than alfred dowe, keep in mind, I dont support him, know him and probably wouldnt like him if I did know him, but can,t we use some of our tax dollars to do something real like perhaps, get some of this Roanoke city grass cut, and maybe some speed bumps where children play, focus on that city council. and that some real truth for you, can you handle it?

                                   I agree he is no murderer but as much as he been on the news you would think so. I think enough is enough. He has already been humiliated. Murders dont even get a much attention. It seems like everytime you turn on the news or read the paper his face is on the page. To be honest im sick of it there is more important issues to worry about. Sure what he has done was wrong I agree. He took taxpayers money but sending him to jail for an nonviolent crime is only going to take even more money from taxpayers. I know I dont want my tax money to be used to keep him in jail and he didnt even physicaly hurt anybody. Jail should be reserved for the rapist and murders. By now most employers no who he is and what he has done. It would be very difficult for him to get a good job. I dont think its any worse than corrupt policemen getting away scott free with selling drugs and using unnessessary exessive force which they called jusitified I dont see people getting all fired up about that.