Former Homeless Man Faces Prison Time

A Fredericksburg Circuit Court jury recommended a total of 12 years in prison for a city man convicted of statutory burglary, obstruction of justice and assault and battery on Tuesday.

Alexander Archer, 64, will be officially sentenced on July 11. Archer was already on the Virginia State Police Sex Offender registry for aggravated sexual battery on Nov. 10, 2005.

On November 29, 2011, Robert Artois obtained a warrant against Archer for an assault that occurred on Nov. 28, 2011, according to the Fredericksburg Police Department spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe. Artois lived at 1116 Caroline St. next to Archer at 1118 Caroline St.

Artois, who was homeless a few years ago, said in an interview today that Archer had been bothering him and accused him of calling the landlord on him for drinking, to which he denied. Artois was dumping trash in a Dumpster behind Archer's apartment when he said Archer blocked him on the sidewalk, grabbed his arm and punched him in the face in front of 1118 Caroline St. 

SheliaJean Colosimo, who lives in the same building as Archer, testified against Archer in the case and Archer was ultimately convicted of the assault. Archer got out of jail, and Artois said he obtained a protective order, but it didn't help because Archer continued to bother him once he returned to 1118 Caroline St.

On Jan. 13, Colosimo reported that Archer came to her residence and beat on the door. When she answered, he forced his way inside and allegedly attacked her and threatened to kill her. A magistrate issued warrants against Archer for intimidating a witness (obstruction of justice), unlawful entry and revocation of his bond for the assault conviction, and they were served a day later.

On Jan. 25, after Colosimo was interviewed, Fredericksburg Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Kevin Gross recommended that police obtain additional warrants against Archer for felony breaking and entering at night with intent to commit assault and misdemeanor assault and battery. Those warrants were served on Archer while he was in jail.

The jury trial lasted all of Tuesday and the jury recommended 10 years for the burglary charge, 12 months for the obstruction charge and 12 months for the assault and battery of Artois. He was acquitted of assault and battery of Colosimo.

Archer was getting assistance from Micah Ministries to live at 1118 Caroline Street in downtown Fredericksburg and there was a bio about Archer on the nonprofits website as of Thursday morning. He was a regular sight at the apartment on Caroline Street, often gardening, playing with his puppy or mowing the lawns.

Colosimo also received assistance from Micah and lives in the same apartment building as Archer.

"He was the nicest man you could meet, but after he started drinking he was the crudest creature God put on this earth," she said about Archer. "If I knew the cost to me, I would've never came forward."

Micah also helped Artois get housing at 1116 Caroline St.

"I had a hard time getting anyone but the police and the commonwealth's attorney to believe this happened," Artois said in an interview.