Performs other duties as assigned. Sydney joined the WSLS 10 News team in June 2021. Caldwell prevailed, taking 53.8% of the vote total, with Hill drawing 46.7%, according to the Virginia Department of Elections. Motor Vehicle Tax Rate for Disabled Veterans, Real Estate Tax Relief - Disabled Veterans, Real Estate Tax Freeze - Elderly and Disabled, Roanoke County Rural Broadband Initiative, Rebecca Owens, Deputy County Administrator, Doug Blount, Assistant County Administrator, Madeline Sefcik, Assistant to the County Administrator, Glade Creek Restoration, Vinyard Park Phase I, Background on Stormwater Public Education, Stream Impairments & Total Maximum Daily Loads, Niche Academy: Tutorials for our Virtual Resources, Roanoke River Greenway Highland Rd-Explore Park, West Roanoke River Greenway Feasibility Study, Roanoke River Greenway Through Explore Park, Town of Vinton Downtown Facade Grant Program, About the Community Strategic Planning Process, County's Responsibility Responding to Your Request. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Website . The Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office is comprised of an elected Commonwealth's Attorney, a Chief Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorneys, and support staff. The office does not handle civil cases such as divorces, landlord/tenant disputes, estates, wills, and real estate. Roanoke commonwealth's attorney candidates offer thoughts in Q&A. Hill said that, if he was elected, he would recuse himself from the Jeffrey case because Jeffrey is a former client he represented in a civil matter. Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office Oct 2017 - Present 5 years 5 months. Duties The office: Represents the County in court and in administrative proceedings You can cancel at any time. The position of Commonwealths Attorney was established by the Constitution of Virginia. Eldon James serves as the County's Legislative Liaison for its legislative interests before the General Assembly. Although Hill has primarily acted as a Roanoke defense attorney since coming to the city in 1984, the two men have worked together in the past Hill was as an assistant prosecutor in Caldwells office in 1988, and then again from 1996 to 2001. The funding is awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Emergency Solutions . 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. Pay Taxes & Bills. With his fifth and sixth answers, Caldwell drilled down on that tack by specifically calling out his opponent, Hill, for a documented history of unpaid federal taxes from 10 individual years between 2017 and 2006, and a similar debt dating back to 1995. The Commonwealth's Attorney advises citizens, law enforcement agencies and magistrates regarding the interpretation of criminal law. They work in conjunction with A, fire, and law enforcement personnel of Roanoke County and the Town of Vinton to save lives, protect property, and stop crime. Jeff Sturgeon covers business in the Roanoke and New River valleys of Virginia. With the retirement of Randy Leach, the county is seeing its first contested election for Commonwealth's Attorney in more than 30 years. 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. Name Title Email Phone Additional Phone Caldwell, Donald Commonwealth's Attorney: 540-853-2626 Return to Staff Directory News. Because the Commonwealths Attorney in each locality has the sole discretion as to whether a defendant should be prosecuted and, if so, how the case should be tried, as he or she represents the interests of the people of Virginia. This is the role of the Attorney General of Virginia, who is elected by the states voters every four years. Phone: 540-387-6174. Those conditions caused severe pain. Although Commonwealths Attorneys represent Virginians in court, they do not provide legal counsel to state government. Visit our Maps and Apps Gallery to find mobile-enabled GIS maps, GIS services and more. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Brian T. Holohan has won in Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney race, beating James Steele and Dirk Padgett. Roanoke County's longtime prosecutor has retired and passed the baton to his chief assistant. The proposal calls for a 16-cent real estate tax rate drop. Commonwealth's Attorney . 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. The Democrat's decision not to run for re-election follows 28 years in Virginia's Senate. Aaron B. Houchens, attorney for the defense, said this is not a . There must be open and honest communication between the various law enforcement agencies. WASHINGTON- Today, U.S. Sens. Because the Commonwealths Attorney in each locality has the sole discretion as to whether a defendant should be prosecuted and, if so, how the case should be tried, as he or she represents the interests of the people of Virginia. Caldwell: I feel that the working relationship between this office and the specific members of the criminal justice system that are mentioned (as well as the many other members who are not) is one of continual communication and cooperation. If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1558. Caldwell said, if he isnt reelected, he would retire from the law at the end of the year. I would encourage them to consider either the repeal or modification of a number of laws that have been enacted in the past two years, which unnecessarily restrict the police and the judges in the performance of their duties and do little to enhance public safety. The ballot wont include party affiliations, but Hill is a Democrat. "And I am the only candidate who has prosecuted in Roanoke County and I think that makes me uniquely qualified.". Neil Harvey covers state courts in Franklin County and the cities of Roanoke and Salem. Please subscribe to keep reading. The DA's Office also maintains court records that are open to the public. Title: Attorney - Assistant Public Defender I - Danville Hiring Range: $58,492.00 + State Benefits Agency: Indigent Defense Commission Location: DANVILLE 315 Agency Website: www.vadefenders.org Recruitment Type: General Public - G Job Duties The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission (VIDC) is now accepting applications for the position of Assistant Public Defender I that will serve our mission . Our customer-oriented staff and our business-friendly environment, along with superior schools, affordable housing, and the magnificent natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, make Roanoke County an ideal place to locate your business or to raise your family. Communications Officers serve as first responders. Appointments may be scheduled by calling 540-387-6174. The Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney, located in Salem, VA, is an agency that prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of the Salem government. Find 6 District Attorney Offices within 30.2 miles of Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney. 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. Court records show Michel confessed to shooting and killing his and his wifes dogs, [READ MORE: Bond denied for dog owner who confessed to killing his dogs in Franklin County]. Gardner has been in the Alleghany Commonwealth's Attorney's. But my office will aggressively prosecute all cases of domestic violence. Phone: 540-387-6174. "I mean I've prosecuted Al Qaeda terrorists, and the ones at Guantanamo Bay, and the ones that attacked our nation, and I think with that qualification leading this experienced team of prosecutors, I can lead the Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office," Padgett said. Roanoke County will soon have a new Commonwealth's Attorney, no matter who wins Tuesday's election. Defense and family law attorney Melvin Hill is back for a second time intent on unseating Caldwell, having narrowly lost in 2017. 5204 Bernard Drive Fourth Floor Roanoke VA 24018. Colby and Caleb. You have permission to edit this article. ROCKY MOUNT, Va. The Franklin County man who police say killed his own dogs will remain in jail awaiting his next hearing. Roanoke County is committed to service and innovation. "It's such a huge threat to the community and we have changed so little since we established the drug court in 1995, I think that's the thing that really sets my campaign apart," Steele said. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Roanokes longtime chief prosecutor, Donald Caldwell, has formally announced he will seek an 11th term of office. Caldwell used to be a Democrat but became an independent. The decision to delay angered those in attendance. Commonwealth's Attorney Physical Address Roanoke County Courthouse 305 E. Main Street, Room 202 Salem, VA 24153 Mailing Address 305 E. Main Street Room 202 Salem, VA 24153 Phone: : 540-387-6174 Fax: : 540-387-6065 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Directory Brian Holohan Commonwealth's Attorney Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. The winner of Tuesday's election will take office in January. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. Until all segments of society are fully involved in eliminating gang violence, drug abuse and domestic violence, those problems will persist. Rogers, Frank W, ATY. There has always been a provision in the Virginia code that has permitted possession of marijuana for medical treatment. Over the years to come, we will definitely see an increase of DUI marijuana cases but have no standard by which to gauge a case in court. In Salem, the District Attorney plays a central role in criminal cases, working with police to decide whether to bring charges and prosecuting the case in court. Beyond his or her prosecutorial role, each Commonwealths Attorney is also required by state law to perform a number of civil functions. 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. Please subscribe to keep reading. In less than a week, the election of the Roanokes chief prosecutor will set criminal justice system priorities for the next four years. Citizens in need of legal assistance may call the Virginia State Bar Referral Service at 1-800-552-7977. Brian T. Holohan has won in Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney race, beating James Steele and Dirk Padgett. 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. During the 2017 election, attorney Melvin Hill nabbed the Democratic nomination, and gave Caldwell his first contested race for commonwealths attorney. All Rights Reserved. Montgomery-Radford Bar . 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. Smith." Access Parks and Recreation information for Roanoke County. The office of the commonwealths attorney operates on a budget of more than $2 million and is authorized for 23 positions. Driving under the influence cases are dangerous in that the entire public is at risk. The primary duty of each Commonwealths Attorney is to prosecute all felonies and misdemeanors charged under the Code of Virginia occurring in his or her locality. Caldwell is also handling an election fraud case in Virginia Beach with a different assistant, also the result of a special assignment. 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. 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Legalization is a policy decision for the General Assembly, but those decisions should be implemented with an appreciation of what is actually happening on the street. Commonwealths Attorneys also do not provide legal counsel to individual citizens on private matters. The voters of each city and county in Virginia elect a Commonwealths Attorney to serve a 4-year term. Box 29800 Roanoke, VA 24018-0798 Phone: 540-772-2006 Staff Directory Commonwealth's Attorney Randy Leach had been mulling the idea of retirement and made his. Last month, Hill announced that he is returning this year for a second run at the job, again with Democratic support. Access your library 24/7 from anywhere. Purpose The position of commonwealth's attorney was established by the Constitution of Virginia. 2840 Electric Rd, Roanoke, VA 24018. NOTICE EFFECTIVE MARCH 18, 2020:The Commonwealths Attorneys Office is restricting public access to the office by appointment only. With a projected increase of nearly $20 million in additional tax revenue for the upcoming fiscal year, county officials are looking for ways . Smith." I was prosecuting a drug case. Yet there was no such policy for defendants convicted of domestic violence. Commonwealths Attorneys also do not provide legal counsel to individual citizens on private matters. Suggest Listing Find your trash collection day, review holiday scheduling, and learn about bulk and brush collection services. 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. The Children's Services Act for At Risk Youth and Families (CSA) is a 1993 Virginia law that provides for the pooling of eight specific funding streams used to purchase services for high risk youth and their families. 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roanoke county commonwealth attorney