News and Updates

  Last week, Mildred V. Pacheco, 47, of Danville, Virginia and Matthew Isiah Fuller, 38, of South Boston, Virginia appeared in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of Buchanan County, Virginia.  Defendant Pacheco plead guilty to one count of Obscene Sexual Display in Public, one count of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and…

Joseph L Rayburn, 44, of Burnwell, Kentucky plead guilty to Attempted Aggravated Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, Malicious Shooting a Firearm at an Occupied Law Enforcement Vehicle, Possession of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance, and Eluding Law Enforcement in the Buchanan County Circuit Court…

On Monday, a Buchanan County jury began what turned into the 3 day trial of Bobby Joe Proffitt, 40, of Cedar Bluff Virginia.  Proffitt was charged with Burglary of the home of Mark Taylor, Burglary of a detached garage, and Grand Larceny. At trial, Mark Taylor testified that upon return to his home after being…

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…

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…

Kenneth Ray Wyatt was sentenced to 20 years on August 28, 2019 in the Buchanan County Circuit Court for multiple crimes stemming from a car chase involving Buchanan County Sherriff’s Deputies.  Of that 20-year sentence, Wyatt will serve 6 years, 3 months as an active sentence, with the remainder suspended on the condition he complete…

Jonathan Shane Pinion, of Steele, Kentucky, was sentenced in the Buchanan Count Circuit Court last Wednesday for a crime spree he committed in July of 2017.  Pinion was convicted of two counts of Breaking and Entering, two counts of Grand Larceny, two counts of Possession of Stolen Property with Intent to Sell, one count of…

Jamie Grant Castle, 41, of Fort Gay, West Virginia, after previously being found guilty of 25 charges stemming from his possession of child pornography in Buchanan County, was sentenced to serve 14 years in a Virginia prison. Grant also received an additional 84 years in prison which was suspended on the condition that he complete…

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…

Late Friday afternoon, a Buchanan County jury found Jerry Lee Morrow, 62, of Hurley, Virginia, guilty of two counts of Distribution of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance – 3rd or Subsequent Offense, one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Felon in Possession of Ammunition. The jury would…

Late yesterday evening, a Buchanan County jury found Steven Ray Matney, 33, formerly of Hazel Park, Michigan, guilty of First Degree Felony Murder, Robbery, and Use of a Weapon in the Commission of a Felony. The jury returned for a 8th day today to consider sentencing. After hearing additional evidence, the jury returned early this…

Nathaniel Reece Harris, 25, of Grundy Virginia entered guilty pleas to one charge each of Escape Without Force and Violation of Probation. During the sentencing hearing, the Commonwealth presented evidence that on November 2, 2017, Harris, who had appeared in the Circuit Court regarding his probation violation, escaped from custody. Officer Billie McGlothlin testified that…

Last week, Lisa Kathleen Burns, 44, of Grundy, Virginia was ordered to serve a sentence near the highest end of the applicable sentencing guidelines. Burns had previously entered guilty pleas to one count each of Distribution of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance, Distribution of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance on School Property, Distribution of a…

Last week, James Michael Taylor, 62, of Barren Springs, Virginia was sentenced to serve 5 years of a 30 year sentence for his sales of Oxycodone to an undercover narcotics task force officer. During the sentencing hearing, Special Agent Anthony Skeens testified that on two separate occasions in Fall 2014, Taylor traveled to Grundy, Virginia…

On May 14th Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Arrington kicked off his annual So, Now You’re 18 program for area high school seniors. This year, Arrington’s program kicked off at Council High School, and included multiple topics ranging from financial responsibility to potential legal issues facing adults. Arrington began working on this program in 2012, the same…

Michael Jamie Stiltner, 39, of Hurley, Virginia was sentenced to a 103 year sentence by the Buchanan County Circuit Court last week as a result of a crime spree which began last spring.  Ultimately, the court suspended 89 years of the sentence on the condition that Stiltner serve an active 14 year prison sentence and…

Buchanan County Man to Serve 10 Years in Prison for Attacking Wife with a Hammer Paul Douglas Guffey, 65, of Grundy, Virginia, appeared in the Buchanan County Circuit Court last week to be sentenced on one count of Aggravated Malicious Wounding During the hearing, Guffey’s wife testified that on December 23, 2012, Guffey had been…

Buchanan County Man Sentenced For Poaching 4 Elk, 3 Deer, A Black Bear and A Bobcat On June 19, 2017, Nelson Drummond received a sentence of 2,370 days plus an additional 6 months of incarceration, a 5 year loss of hunting privileges, and restitution of $25,500 for poaching 4 elk, 3 deer, a black bear…

  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. …

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…

Zig Howard Sentenced to Life Plus 10 Years in Historic Case Zig Howard , 63, of Raven, Virginia was convicted this past Friday in what Buchanan County Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Arrington called a historical case for his county.  After hearing evidence for most of the day, it took a Buchanan County jury less than an…

Violent Sexual Predator Receives Life Plus Twenty Years in Tazewell County On Wednesday, a Tazewell County jury found Roy Darnell Vance, Jr., 55, of Tazewell County guilty of Inanimate Object Sexual Penetration of a Victim Thirteen Years or Younger and Aggravated Sexual Battery, being a Second or Subsequent Offense.  In December 2015, Gerald Arrington, Buchanan…

Prater to Serve 6 Years for Assaulting Officers and Hit and Run Leon Ferrell Prater, 34, of Big Rock, Virginia, was sentenced to 17 years  in prison with 11 years of that sentence suspended on the condition he serve a 6 year active sentence and 9 years of supervised probation.  Prater had previously pled guilty…

Methamphetamine Manufacturer to Serve 15 Years Ervin Dwayne Ratliff, age 37, of Maxie, Virginia received 70 years in a Virginia Prison with 15 years of that sentence remaining an active sentence on the condition that Ratliff successfully complete 7 years of active supervised probation. Prior to sentencing, Ratliff previously plead guilty to charges of Manufacturing…

Jury Convicts Waters of Theft and Recommends Maximum Sentence  Donnie Waters, 43, of Home Creek, was convicted by a Buchanan County Jury on Thursday, March 24, 2016 of Felony Third or Subsequent Petit Larceny.  Immediately following conviction, the jury reconvened and recommended a sentence of 5 years, the maximum sentence allowed for this offense. On…

Buchanan County Man Receives More Than 50 Years for Shooting His Son On October 26, 2015, Scotty Ray Whitt, 48, of Hurley, Virginia appeared before the Buchanan County Circuit Court and was sentenced on the following charges:  Aggravated Malicious Wounding, Assault and Battery on a Family Member, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of…

  Child Molester Sentenced to 115 Years With 34 Years to Serve In Buchanan County On October 21st, 2015, David Lee Bowman, 43, of Michigan, was sentenced to 115 years of incarceration with 81 years of that sentence suspended on the condition that the Defendant be placed on active supervised probation for the rest of…

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…

Greenbriar Drug Dealer Sentenced to 40 Years In Prison With 7 Years To Serve   On August 26, 2015, Melena Deel, age 40, of the Greenbriar area, pled guilty in the Buchanan County Circuit Court to one count of Distribution of Schedule I/II Controlled Substance, and one count of Distribution of Schedule III Controlled Substance. …

Keen Mountain Inmate Sentenced to 5 Years for Procuring Drugs While in Prison On August 26, 2015, Thomas Durham, age 34, pled guilty in the Buchanan County Circuit Court to one count of procuring, selling, secreting or possessing a chemical compound which he did not lawfully receive.  Thomas Durham was an inmate at Keen Mountain…

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…

Big Rock Man to Serve Three Years for Theft and Attempted Sale of a Weedeater   On August 26, 2015, Christopher Ramey, age 21, of Big Rock, pled guilty in the Buchanan County Circuit Court to charges of Grand Larceny, Possession Stolen Property with the Intent to Sell, and a Violation of his Probation.  Following…

DRUG DEALER CONVICTED FOR GROWING MARIJUANA & SELLING PILLS WHILE ON BOND On June 16, 2015, Charles Ryan Fuller, 32 years old, of Grundy, Virginia appeared before the Buchanan County Circuit Court for a sentencing hearing arising from his convictions of Manufacturing Marijuana, 4 counts of Distribution of a Schedule I/II Drug,  and 2 counts…

SEX OFFENDER TO SERVE TEN YEAR SENTENCE FOR FIREARM POSSESSION                  On June 24, 2015, James Randall Matthews, age 47, of Hurley, pled guilty in the Buchanan County Circuit Court to two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Violent Convicted Felon.  Matthews was sentenced to serve ten years in prison, the statutory maximum…

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,…

Hurley Resident, Who Shot His Own Son, Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Malicious Wounding   On June 4, 2015, Scotty Whitt, 48, of Hurley, Virginia, pled no contest in the Buchanan County Circuit Court to the aggravated malicious wounding of his son, Josh Whitt, in June of last year.  Whitt also entered pleas to charges of…

    METH COOK TO SERVE LENGTHY PRISON SENTENCE   On May 26, 2015, Jonathan Michael Duty, 32, of Hurley, Virginia was sentenced to serve 9 years in a Virginia prison following a sentencing hearing in the Buchanan County Circuit Court.  In March, the 32 year-old Buchanan County man pled guilty to Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Conspiracy…

  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…

C.O.P.E. HOUSE CONSPIRATOR SENTENCED TO JAIL             On March 19th, 2015, Marshall Lineberry, 44, of Wytheville, was sentenced in Buchanan County Circuit Court after he pled no contest to Conspiracy to Commit Embezzlement over $200 and four counts of Embezzlement over $200, on July 7th, 2014. Lineberry was sentenced to 15 years of incarceration with…

WISE COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS             On March 4th, 2015, Terry Church, 32, of Big Stone Gap, Virginia was sentenced for malicious wounding and child endangerment. On December 10th, 2014 Church pled guilty to both charges in Wise Circuit Court. Church was sentenced to 30 years in prison with 19 years suspended on…

PROBATION VIOLATION RESULTS IN 10 YEARS OF CONFINEMENT FOR BUCHANAN COUNTY MAN             On March 11th, 2015, Doyle Mullins, 44, of Vansant, Virginia pled guilty to violating his probation and was ordered to spend the next 5 years in a Virginia prison, and immediately after his release, to spend his first 5 years of probation…

    SENTENCES LEVIED IN MURDER OF BUCHANAN COUNTY MAN   On February 27, 2015, Christopher Lee Ramey was sentenced to serve 17 years in a Virginia prison following a lengthy sentencing hearing in the Buchanan County Circuit Court. Last October, the 32 year-old Pike County, Kentucky man pled guilty to the murder of Freddie…

CHILD MOLESTER SENTENCED TO 101 YEARS             On January 27th, 2015, Bernard Joe Kennedy, 29, of the Hurley, Virginia was sentenced to 101 years of incarceration with 86 years of that sentence suspended on the condition that the Defendant be on active supervised probation for the rest of his life. Kennedy had previously pled guilty…

METH CONSPIRATORS TO SERVE 6 YEARS OR MORE IN PRISON On February 4th, 2015, Marilyn Hill and Danny Justus of Buchanan County were sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Hill received a sentence of 27 years in a Virginia prison with 21 years of that sentence being suspended on the condition…

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…

On March 13, 2014, a Buchanan County Circuit Court judge sentenced Gregory Mark Dotson, 59, of Hurley, Virginia to more than 117 years in a Virginia prison for his part in more than 20 felony drug charges, including 7 counts of distribution of a schedule II controlled substance. Dotson will serve eighteen years of this…

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…

On January 29, 2014, Kevin Wayne Berglowe, 46, of Hurley, Virginia was sentenced to more than 35 years in prison following a lengthy sentencing hearing in the Buchanan County Circuit Court pertaining to his convictions for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of more than 5 pounds of marijuana with the intent to…

On January 29, 2014, Laura Click, 29, of Big Rock, Virginia was sentenced to spend the next 10 years in prison following a sentencing hearing in the Buchanan County Circuit Court resulting from her conviction for conspiracy to commit robbery.              According to Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Arrington, on November 23, 2011, David Gilbert and his…

  On June 5, John Haven Goble, 34, of Grundy, Virginia, was scheduled to appear in the Buchanan County Circuit Court for sentencing in connection with charges of Abduction and Assault on a Police Officer. While walking from the jail van to the courthouse, Goble’s father approached him and handed him two suboxone strips, a…

Last Wednesday, Timothy Lee Adkins, 30, of Hurley, Virginia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with 7 years of that sentence suspended as a result of convictions for two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer and one count of escaping from custody. According to police documents, on January 9, 2013, Buchanan County…

On November 7, 2013, David Hiram Gilbert, 24, of War, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to one count of first degree felony murder arising from the November 23, 2011 death of Leroy Shortridge in the Watkins Branch section of Grundy, Virginia.  After accepting the plea agreement, Buchanan County Circuit Court Judge Patrick Johnson sentenced Gilbert to…

COCAINE DEALER TO SERVE MORE THAN 8 YEARS IN PRISON   Last week, Donnie Ray Hurley, 37, of Hurley, Virginia, was sentenced to serve more than 5 years in prison following a sentencing hearing in the Buchanan County Circuit Court pertaining to his convictions for distribution of cocaine, possession of cocaine with the intent to…

Kentucky Man To Serve More Than 16 Years in Prison For Armed Robbery Of Grundy Area Pharmacy On Tuesday, Michael Shawn Bartley, 37, of Elkhorn City, Kentucky plead guilty to one count each of armed robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of robbery, eluding police, and attempted assault of a law enforcement officer…

Following a nearly 3 hour long sentencing hearing on Thursday, Mack Horn, 66, and his wife, Debra, 54, were sentenced to serve 4 years in a Virginia prison for their role in the embezzlement of over $100,000 from the John Ratliff post of the American Legion and its Ladies Auxiliary. At the time of their…

On Saturday May 4th, a number of local county residents came out to participate in the 2nd Annual Prosecutors For a Cure Flag Football Tournament.  The event raised more than $400.00 dollars for the American Cancer Society on behalf of their Relay For Life team. While the event was held to raise money for a…

Kevin Paul Johnson, 34 of Cedar Bluff, Virginia, appeared back in the Buchanan County Circuit Court to answer charges arising from his flight from justice in August 2012.  The last time he was in court, he received an active sentence of 4 years and 3 months in prison.  At the conclusion of that June 2012…

COLEMAN TO SERVE MORE THAN 4 YEARS FOR CUTTING OFF HOUSE ARREST ANKLE BRACELET  On April 29, 2013, Garnie Coleman appeared before the Hon. Henry Vanover in the Buchanan County Circuit Court to answer charges for violation of probation and contempt of court that resulted from allegations that he had cut off the home electronic…

HARMAN AREA BURGLARY RESULTS IN 7 YEAR SENTENCE On April 17, Brian Eugene Gordon, 30, of Greenbrier was sentenced to more than four years in prison following a sentencing hearing in the Buchanan County Circuit Court pertaining to his convictions for forgery and the 2011 burglary of the Clevinger home in the Deel Fork section…

On April 17, Gerald Arrington delivered the “So Now You’re 18” program to the Grundy Senior High School senior class.  School Board Members Heath Harrison and Scotty Owens were on hand to listen to the program and visit with the senior class. For more information about the “So Now You’re 18” program, see this story…

Commonwealth Takes Tough Stance Against Rogue CI; Results In 3 Year Prison Sentence   On April 15, 2013, the Buchanan County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office went after a former C.I. (confidential informant) who had gone rogue with both barrels blazing. Melissa Ranae Osborne’s case had originally been set for a jury trial, but at the last…

On February 4, 2013, a Buchanan County Circuit Court judge sentenced Hassell Gibson, 27, to 126 years in the Virginia penitentiary for his role in the theft and illegal use of another’s credit card.  The Court suspended 123 years of this sentence on the condition that Gibson serve 3 years in prison and upon his…

  DRUG DEALER TO SERVE SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON On December 18, 2012, Michael Allen Keen, 54, of Maxie, Virginia received a twenty two year prison sentence as a result of his distribution of drugs and violation of probation.  Keen had previously pleaded guilty to distribution of hydrocodone on two separate dates in June and…

BUCHANAN COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR MURDER On October 2, 2012, Michael Harold Justus was sentenced to serve 20 years in a Virginia prison following a brief sentencing hearing in the Buchanan County Circuit Court.  In June, a Buchanan County jury convicted the 37 year-old Raven, Virginia man of murder and the use…

Linda Keen To Serve 7 Years In Prison For Drug Distribution On June 25, 2012, Linda Marie Keen, 58, of Maxie, Virginia received a thirty three year sentence as a result of her distribution of drugs and violation of probation. Keen had previously pleaded guilty to distribution of hydrocodone on two separate dates in June…

On May 31, Verdie Channing Compton, 29, of Council, Virginia was sentenced to 31 years of imprisonment following a legnthy sentencing hearing in the Buchanan County Circuit Court. In March, Compton pled guilty to DUID, Aggravated Involuntary Manslaugter, Maiming, and Hit and Run arising from his June 2011 collision with two motorcycles in the Council…

On Monday, April 9, 2012, a Buchanan County Grand Jury returned a total of 288 indictments as true bills against 43 defendants.  Included in these indictments were a number of violent crimes such as attempted capital murder, armed robbery, and burglary, as well as sex crimes, and a multitude of theft related charges. The April…

                 Ervin Hardin Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Attempted Power Line Theft On February 23, 2012, Ervin Hardin received a twenty year prison sentence as a result of his botched attempt to steal an AEP electric line on Bull Mountain.  During the sentencing hearing, Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Arrington pointed out…

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,…