Violinist contesting extradition to Loudoun on sex charges
By: Scott McCabe
Examiner Staff Writer
July 5, 2009
A top violinist for the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra is fighting extradition to Loudoun County on charges he tried to solicit a 14-year-old girl for sex over the Internet.
Luigi Peracchia, 41, was arrested on a fugitive warrant by state police in West Virginia in March while he was practicing with the symphony's top string players.
Peracchia, of Charleston, couldn't be reached Friday, but his lawyer John Flannery, told the West Virginia Gazette that the arrest of his client was "reckless" because Peracchia was not a fugitive. His client was never in Virginia, he had no idea that he was wanted by police, and the police knew he was in Charleston all along. The violinist has no previous criminal record, Flannery said.
"The idea of him as a fugitive is as valid as the possibility that you and I are going to levitate during this conversation," Flannery told the newspaper.
Flannery argued that the case was not brought up in the proper jurisdiction, and that it should be a federal matter. A hearing been set for August.
According to a warrant, Peracchia used electronic means to try to entice a person who he thought was less than 15 years old. Kraig Troxell, spokesman for the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, told The Examiner on Friday that he was not sure whether the person that Peracchia was corresponding with was an undercover police officer.
The West Virginia State Police arrested Peracchia on March 24 while he was rehearsing with the symphony's Montclaire String Quartet at Shepherd University. He was held for two days until he posted $25,000 bail. If convicted, Peracchia could serve up to 10 years in jail.
Peracchia has been with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra since 2004, most recently as the principal second violin. He has been suspended pending the outcome of this case.
"The symphony has taken the appropriate measures to distance itself from Mr. Peracchia," according to a statement from the symphony's president.
Peracchia was allowed to pursue his career outside the Mountain State. He is listed as a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in New York for the current 2009 summer season, according to the Chautauqua Institution's Web site.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
