BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Roger Chamberlain may have thought he managed to slide by police when he switched motels.
But when he was allegedly found a short while later glimmering from head to toe in petroleum jelly, authorities believed they had their man.
Chamberlain, 44, of McLean, Va., is accused of coating nearly every available surface in his room at the Motel 6 near Binghamton with the unctuous substance.
Then, after checking out, a cleaning crew discovered the gooey mess -- one that included mattresses, bedding, a television set, furniture, carpeting and towels all slathered with petroleum jelly.
Damage to the room and its contents was estimated at more than $1,000, and once police arrived, they found 14 empty petroleum jelly containers and numerous pornographic magazines in the trash can, according to WNBF radio in Binghamton.
A short time later, a sheriff's deputy found Chamberlain in a room at another motel, his body smeared entirely in the greasy stuff, authorities said.
Chamberlain was charged May 9 with felony criminal mischief and ordered held in Broome County Jail. He was released May 11, Corrections Officer Anthony Rando said.
Meanwhile, back at the Motel 6, the manager said Chamberlain's old room remains unusable.
An attempt to reach Chamberlain in Virginia was not immediately successful.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
(oops - well let's just consider this a backup in case the article goes down
) Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:2336, old post ID:19777
