Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office Prevails In One of Far Southwest Virginia’s First Jury Trials

On May 4, 2021, Buchanan County became the first county in the 29th Judicial Circuit (Buchanan, Tazewell, Russell, and Dickenson Counties) to successfully complete a jury trial after the Covid-19 pandemic.  In March of 2020, the Supreme Court of Virginia halted all court hearings, except those deemed emergencies, such as protective orders, bond hearings, and…

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January Grand Jury

On January 11, 2021, the Buchanan County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office convened its quarterly meeting of the Grand Jury. A total of 72 indictments were presented against a total of 21 defendants. At the request of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Gerald Arrington, those indictments were sealed.  When asked about the reasoning for sealing those indictments, Arrington explained…

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Jury Recommends Life Plus 10

Late last week, a Buchanan County jury recommended that Travis Wade Spence, 45, of Grundy Virginia spend the rest of his natural life in prison. Spence had been previously found guilty of First-Degree Murder and Obstruction of Justice by a different Buchanan County jury. According to Buchanan County Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Arrington, Spence was previously…

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BUCHANAN COUNTY COUPLE GIVEN LENGTHY SENTENCES FOR FIREARM AND MARIJUANA DISTRIBUTION CHARGES

  Buchanan County Couple Given Lengthy Sentences For Firearm And Marijuana Distribution Charges Terry Kenneth Hunt, 54, and Kelly Matney, 43, of Buchanan County, plead guilty and were sentenced for charges of Manufacturing Marijuana, Distribution of More than 5 Pounds of Marijuana, and Possession of a Firearm while Distributing More than 1 Pound of Marijuana. …

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BUCHANAN COUNTY RESIDENT TO SERVE 14 YEARS IN PRISON ON METHAMPHETAMINE AND FIREARM CHARGES

Buchanan County Resident to Serve 14 Years in Prison on Methamphetamine and Firearm Charges Earlier this month, the Buchanan County Circuit Court sentenced Charles Wayne Sexton, 25, to 67 years in the state penitentiary, with 53 years of that sentence suspended for 3 counts of Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine, 2 counts of being a Violent…

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Gerald Arrington Elected to the Board of Directors for the Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys

Gerald Arrington Elected to the Board of Directors for the Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys                 On August 9, 2015, Buchanan County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Gerald Arrington was elected to the Board of Directors for the Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys (VACA).  The VACA is divided by Congressional District, with Buchanan County lying within the…

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Vansant Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Elude Police and Assaulting a State Trooper

Vansant Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Elude Police and Assaulting a State Trooper On August 26, 2015, James Caperton, age 41, of Vansant, pled guilty in the Buchanan County Circuit Court to Assault and Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Felony Elude (Attempted), Property Destruction greater than $1,000, Driving under the Influence of Alcohol…

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JURY RECOMMENDS A 22 ½-SENTENCE FOR BRADLEY HURLEY FOR BREAKING & ENTERING, CONSPIRACY, FELONY PETIT LARCENY, AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

Jury Recommends a 22 ½-Sentence for Bradley Hurley for Breaking & Entering, Conspiracy, Felony Petit Larceny, and Destruction of Property   On June 3, 2015, a Buchanan County Circuit Court jury recommended a sentence of 22 years 6 months for convicted felon, Bradley Dewayne Hurley, 45, of Vansant, Virginia.  According to Commonwealth’s Attorney, Gerald Arrington,…

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THE 2015 “SO, NOW YOU’RE 18” PROGRAM KICKS OFF

  THE 2015 “SO, NOW YOU’RE 18” PROGRAM KICKS OFF              On April 23rd, Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Arrington kicked off his annual So, Now You’re 18 program. This year, Arrington’s program kicked off at Grundy Senior High School, and included multiple topics ranging from financial responsibility to the legal issues facing adults.  Arrington began working…

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BURGLAR SENTENCED TO 90 YEARS

BURGLAR SENTENCED TO 90 YEARS   On March 19th, 2014, Adam Jeremiah Bowman, 29, of Haysi, Virginia was sentenced to 90 years in prison in the Buchanan County Circuit Court pertaining to his convictions on three counts of Burglary, two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, four counts of Destruction of Property, three counts of…

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CONVICTED MURDERER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR MALICIOUS WOUNDING OF A CORRECTIONS OFFICER

CONVICTED MURDERER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR MALICIOUS WOUNDING OF A CORRECTIONS OFFICER On February 11th, 2014, Elbert Smith, 42, was found guilty by a jury in the Buchanan County Circuit Court pertaining to his indictment for malicious wounding. During the trial, the Commonwealth introduced evidence and testimony that while incarcerated at Keene Mountain Correctional…

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Drug Indictments Returned Against 49

On April 25, 2012, a Buchanan County Grand Jury returned a total of 164 sealed drug indictments against 49 defendants. Included in these indictments were six defendants who have prior convictions for drug distribution. Buchanan County Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Arrington explained that “where an individual has a prior conviction for drug distribution, a second or…

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Sweeping personnel changes are only the beginning promises new county prosecutor

By Phillip Keene “I kept my promise to hire local people,” said newly installed Buchanan County Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Arrington in regards to his staff. This is only one of the many changes and innovations Arrington says he is either implementing or initiating at this point. During his first month as the county’s elected prosecutor,…

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