Woodbridge picnic table case tossed out

Disabled Marine veteran Mickey Triplett was nervous when he walked into the Prince William General District Court this morning.

But shortly after the court was called to order at 9 a.m., the Prince William Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul Ebert stood before the judge and called for ‘null process’ – a legal term that means that the court will not prosecute the case – for a destruction of property charge brought against Triplett for painting a picnic table at his former apartment complex.

Triplett had painted the deteriorating picnic table behind his building at Potomac Ridge Apartments in Woodbridge as a nice gesture before his granddaughter came to visit him in July.

The apartment complex, which is managed by Klingbeil Capital Management, decided to have Triplett charged with destruction of property for painting the table white, according to Prince William County General District Court documents.

Had the null process not been declared in court, Triplett could have faced a $2,500 fine or up to a year in jail, according to the Virginia Code.

Despite the case being dropped, Triplett’s lawyer Jason Pelt, may be filing a civil suit on Triplett’s behalf against Potomac Ridge Apartments for ‘malicious prosecution’.

According to Virginia law, a malicious prosecution case can be filed when an individual or group uses the judicial system with malicious intent, and for prosecution against someone without probable cause.

Ebert told Potomac Local this morning that he had received several calls proceeding this morning’s hearing, asking that he declare ‘null process’ for the case.

“I’m so relieved and so thankful to everyone that came out and helped me. I tried to do a good thing, and it got out of hand…I’ve been going through a rough time, and I’m happy about what happened in court today,” said Triplett.