Republican Brian Holohan, Democrat James Steele and Independent Dirk Padgett bring different experiences and priorities to the campaign for Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney. Phone: (540) 981-3251. What misdemeanor crimes would you prioritize for prosecution during your term of office? May 20, 2021. Roanoke County Courthouse 305 E. Main Street, Room 202 Salem, VA 24153. However, at the end of the day, we all share the common goal of trying to work for public safety and that has and always will continue to be the case. Caldwell: Although the commonwealths attorney is not required under the law of Virginia to prosecute misdemeanors, this office has elected to prosecute misdemeanor crimes as an accommodation to the district courts during my tenure in office, which dates to October of 1979. The District Attorney heads the Salem Prosecutor's Office, directing the attorneys who work for the office. ROANOKE 540-776-3583 540-776-1542 stephanie.cook@kpmlaw.com STEPHANIE COOK Partner Stephanie Gacek Cook, a graduate of the University of Virginia, received her law degree from the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University. "Knowing the place you're going to prosecute in, knowing the court system, knowing the judges, knowing the officers, knowing the defense bar and how they operate, is crucial to doing a good job," Holohan said. Rogers, Frank W, ATY. Browse through information on the Board of Supervisors, online meetings, and agendas and minutes. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Copyright 2023 WSLS.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. 2965 Colonnade Dr, Roanoke, VA 24018. Richmond's John Marshall boys basketball reclaims No. Access information about Economic Development for Roanoke County. The decision to delay angered those in attendance. The Office of the County Attorney provides legal counsel to: Upon request the office provides written legal opinions to County officials and staff. The two candidates did not appear at any debates none were held but differences were apparent from press releases, social media posts and interviews. The Commonwealth's Attorney prosecutes misdemeanor, traffic offenses and felony cases for the County of Roanoke and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District, General District, and Circuit Courts.. City of RoanokeNoel C. Taylor Municipal Building215 Church AvenueRoanoke, VA 24011Phone:540-853-2000Contact Us Form. The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office conducted an independent review following an investigation by the Roanoke County Police Department. Hill would assign assistant prosecutors to also pull duty networking in the community. Phone: 540-853-2626. Caldwell, 70, is currently Virginias third-longest serving commonwealths attorney, behind E.M. Wright, Buckingham Countys top prosecutor since 1974, and C. Phillips Phil Ferguson, of Suffolk, who was elected in 1978. Beyond his or her prosecutorial role, each Commonwealths Attorney is also required by state law to perform a number of civil functions. (Credit: Franklin County Humane Society Planned Pethood & Adoption Center). Schmidt Rose-Anne. 1314 Maple Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24016 . The police came to her home on a well-being check and discovered the marijuana. Pay Taxes & Bills. Access Parks and Recreation information for Roanoke County. Shamby Walker appeared before a judge in Roanoke County Wednesday where she entered a plea deal with the Commonwealth's Attorney's office. Do you have any suggestions for improvement? This is the role of the Attorney General of Virginia, who is elected by the states voters every four years. The criminal justice system has had the reputation of being lenient on individuals who do harm to others. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Last of 13 Radford University 'frat brawl' defendants is sentenced, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Radford coach Darris Nichols apologizes for DUI. Eldon James serves as the County's Legislative Liaison for its legislative interests before the General Assembly. During Wednesdays bond hearing, the Commonwealth shared Mr. Michel admitted to investigators he killed the two dogs to save his marriage., Mr. Michels wife, Rhonda Michel told the judge, Im afraid if you let him out, Im next.. Caldwell: Quite frankly, in a perfect world, I would like to see the 2022 General Assembly take a moratorium on new legislation relating to the criminal justice system. Roanoke, Virginia Area Assistant District Attorney Alaska Department of Law . Although Commonwealths Attorneys represent Virginians in court, they do not provide legal counsel to state government. Roanoke commonwealth's attorney candidates offer thoughts in Q&A. Email: jeff.sturgeon@roanoke.com. She often shares stories of local Black history, but always with one goal in mind: to see the Confederate statue in front of the Franklin Coun. Additionally, I have concerns that the inherent dangers of substance abuse are being glossed over in the euphoric rush to legalize marijuana. Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. Roanoke County candidates for commonwealth's attorney James Steele (from left), Brian Holohan and Dirk Padgett speak at a recent public forum. The Risk and Safety Management Division of the Finance Department is responsible for the insurance, safety and risk-related matters pertaining to the operations of the County of Roanoke. The Commonwealths Attorney prosecutes misdemeanor, traffic offenses and felony cases for the County of Roanoke and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District, General District, and Circuit Courts. The average annual Commonwealth Attorney salary in Roanoke, VA is $59,832. Caldwell said he wants to continue to serve the community, that he continues to enjoy the work, and because he wants to complete unfinished projects, including remodeling the former law library in Roanokes courthouse into new, ground-floor office spaces for his attorneys, as well as two special prosecutions hes handling a voter petitions fraud case in Virginia Beach, and a police shooting in Bristol. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. If you do not speak, read, or write English well, the City will provide an interpreter at no cost to you! View All Virginia District Attorneys. The Roanoke County Commonwealths Attorneys Office is comprised of an elected Commonwealths Attorney, a Chief Assistant Commonwealths Attorney, Assistant Commonwealths Attorneys, and support staff. Please subscribe to keep reading. Roanoke County Commonwealth Attorney Brian Holohan Copyright 2021 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Man died Wednesday. The office also consists of Assistant Commonwealths Attorneys and support staff. Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorneys Office Oct 2009 - Aug 2017 7 years 11 months. With the retirement of Randy Leach, the county is seeing its first contested election for Commonwealth's Attorney in more than 30 years. Follow him on Twitter @newsharvey. What do you think of the relationship between the office of the Roanoke commonwealths attorney and the city police department, the city sheriffs department and the U.S. attorneys office? Holohan wins in race for Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney, Pilot identified in fatal plane crash near Hillsville, Man sentenced for prison over Wythe County drug charges, Virginia Education Superintendent Resigns, Bridging the Great Health Divide Across the US, PublicFileAccess@wdbj7.com - (540) 344-7000. 303 Washington Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24016. Commonwealth's Attorney Responsibilities The commonwealth's attorney prosecutes misdemeanor and felony cases for the city of Roanoke and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District, General District, and Circuit Courts. Neil Harvey covers state courts in Franklin County and the cities of Roanoke and Salem. She would not have been charged with a crime under the decriminalization statute. Caldwell prevailed, taking 53.8% of the vote total, with Hill drawing 46.7%, according to the Virginia Department of Elections. In addition to his career as Roanoke commonwealths attorney, Caldwell is a retired colonel with the U.S. Army Reserve. The Citys next Commonwealths Attorney should be decided by the voters, not by a political committee obviously willing to embrace a candidate without scrutiny or question, he wrote. The incident. Stay Connected . Caldwell raised Hills financial issues during the last campaign, and in interviews at that time, Hill said he was on a payment plan to square the debt. Caldwell used to be a Democrat but became an independent. The decision to delay angered those in attendance. Performs other duties as assigned. Caldwells office filed on average 118 felony and related cases monthly through August, according to the latest available data from the Virginia Supreme Court. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. While Caldwell said he devotes the resources of the office primarily to prosecutions and believes his assistants belong in the courtroom, Hill said that he would carve out time to visit schools, churches and nonprofit organizations for dialogue about the role of the chief prosecutor and community needs. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The Office of Elections is committed to providing each citizen of Roanoke County with the opportunity to exercise his or her right to vote in an efficient and equitable manner in accordance with federal and state election laws. Please subscribe to keep reading. About the Author: McKinley Strother McKinley Strother joined the WSLS 10 News team in June. Find 6 District Attorney Offices within 30.2 miles of Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney. In addition, due to the efforts of Caldwells office, Councilman Robert Jeffrey Jr. faces trial in Roanoke in March on four felony counts alleging financial crimes. The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases (felony and misdemeanor) for Roanoke County. You have permission to edit this article. Visit the Roanoke County Public Schools website. I would partner with Roanoke County and the city of Salem to aggressively prosecute DUIs generated by the DUI task force.. The office is composed of four attorneys and two support staff and is led by the County Attorney who is appointed by and reports to the Board of Supervisors. 69-year-old suffers stroke in his N.C. home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. The relationship is such that I cannot think of any significant suggestions for improvement., Hill: I will appoint two assistant commonwealth attorneys to a gang unit and will request that they be cross designated as federal prosecutors to primarily prosecute gang cases. Each Commonwealths Attorney has the dual responsibility to vigorously prosecute those who violate the law while refusing to prosecute those against whom the evidence does not indicate probable guilt. She was charged with possession of marijuana. 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He said he believes the county can do more to get tough on drug dealers. I would appoint an assistant commonwealths attorney to handle the complex DUIs that result in a fatality. The Roanoke County Victim/Witness Program is here to assist in making this experience easier and assure that victims and witnesses are treated fairly and with compassion while participating in the criminal justice system. Man died Wednesday. FIND SERVICE PROVIDERS. Website . The Roanoke County Victim/Witness Program is here to assist in making this experience easier and assure that victims and witnesses are treated fairly and with compassion while participating in the criminal justice system. Although Caldwell verbally confirmed last month he would pursue reelection, his written statement on Tuesday included a list of six responses to the question, Why am I running?. The DA's Office also maintains court records that are open to the public. Scott said not only is the killing of the familys dogs an act of violence against Ms. Michel, but the fact Mr. Michel lied about the events leading up to the dogs death is also concerning. Real Estate Valuation appraises all eligible properties within the county for tax purposes. Caldwell: Law school taught me the theory that there are two sides to every story, but my early work as a public defender drove that theory home. The position of Commonwealths Attorney was established by the Constitution of Virginia. Criminal cases are brought in the name of the Commonwealth of Virginia, explaining why cases are given names such as "Commonwealth v. Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office Oct 2017 - Present 5 years 5 months. Find your trash collection day, review holiday scheduling, and learn about bulk and brush collection services. Gardner has been in the Alleghany Commonwealth's Attorney's. NOTICE EFFECTIVE MARCH 18, 2020:The Commonwealths Attorneys Office is restricting public access to the office by appointment only. I advised the court that the certificate had been filed in court. Development Services provides essential assistance to the residents and developers of Roanoke County to maintain the character and integrity of neighborhoods, to promote excellence of commercial and residential development, to prevent undue traffic hazards, and to encourage the most harmonious development and use of land. Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. This is the role of the Attorney General of Virginia, who is elected by the states voters every four years. Richmond's John Marshall boys basketball reclaims No. For more than 40 years, Roanoke city voters have placed their trust and confidence in my abilities to carry out the duties, responsibilities and management of this office with professionalism, honesty and integrity, Caldwells campaign announcement said. Hill said he did not know of another local prosecutors office in the state that is taking that tack, but expressed a belief that such efforts would ultimately reduce crime. Visit our Maps and Apps Gallery to find mobile-enabled GIS maps, GIS services and more. Jeff Sturgeon covers business in the Roanoke and New River valleys of Virginia. Prosecutes felony preliminary hearings before the General District Court, Prosecutes misdemeanor cases before the Juvenile and Do, Prosecutes felony preliminary hearings before the Juvenile and Do, Argues Suppression Motions and other Motions before the Circ, Prepares Appellate Briefs for use by the Commonwealth in the Virginia Court of Appeals an, Advises law enforcement on all legal matters involving the investigation and, Develops and conducts formal training on Virginia laws and the United States C, Advises and works with governmental agencies and the public in coordinated efforts to ensure and enhance cri, Makes relevant presentations to community groups on law enforceme, Prepares cases for court by reviewing warrants, police reports, criminal records of the defendant, and particularly the expected testimony of witnesses, Reviews traffic docket prior to court, discusses facts of any cases which are not routine with officers who have cases for that day, Interviews and explains the court system to citizens before the case comes to court, and in cases where witnesses cannot appear, may negotiate with the defense attorney a stipulation to that testimony, Researches, reviews, and offers counsel to other attorneys in the Commonwealth Attorney's Office wherever difficult legal issues arise, Reviews indictments in felony cases before presentation to the Grand jury, Prosecutes criminal cases before all courts in the County of Roanoke, Represents the Commonwealth and the County in an advisory capacity to police and citizens, Reviews new laws, cases, statutes, ordinances, administrative rulings and Attorney General's opinions, Thorough knowledge of criminal law and procedures, rules of evidence, legal research and writing, General knowledge of County of Roanoke ordinances, its courts and court operations. Describe the single most important legislative change on any topic that you would recommend to promote public safety. Each Commonwealths Attorney has the dual responsibility to vigorously prosecute those who violate the law while refusing to prosecute those against whom the evidence does not indicate probable guilt. My opponents career is riddled with continuous financial trouble, poor decision making, and disregard for his obligations under the law.. In the middle of trial, the defense wanted to know if the certificate was filed. The office does not handle civil cases such as divorces, landlord/tenant disputes, estates, wills, and real estate. ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. - The use of deadly force in an officer-involved shooting last year was justified, according to a review by the Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney. The voters of each city and county in Virginia elect a Commonwealths Attorney to serve a 4-year term. 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