Roanoke Times, September 13, 2022
LEXINGTON — A Rockbridge Circuit judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in the case of the Roanoke man accused of causing the 2019 Buena Vista gas station explosion that killed four people.
Phillip Ray Westmoreland, 53, delivered fuel to the South River Market shortly before it exploded on May 10, 2019. He was charged with four counts of involuntary . . .
Roanoke Times, February 8, 2019
ROANOKE — “Charges have been withdrawn against two people who had been accused of carrying out an October robbery in Roanoke County.
The prosecutor’s office moved to drop the charges against Christopher Kendall Nicholas and Natalia Simone Smith, both of Roanoke, during a hearing Thursday in General District Court, according to online records.
Assistant prosecutor Nate Griffith said . . .
Roanoke Times, March 23, 2021
LEXINGTON — “A Roanoke man charged in a fatal explosion and fire at a Rockbridge County gas station was granted bond at a Tuesday hearing, his lawyer said.
##
‘We asked for a bond because we argued that he has significant ties to the community,’ Dean said. ‘He’s not a flight risk, and he has no prior criminal . . .
Roanoke Times, September 4, 2021
ROANOKE — “The very first Jaunt for Justice in the Roanoke Valley occurred in the fall of 2020 at Fallon Park in southeast Roanoke.
Members of the Roanoke Valley Paralegal Association began planning the event in 2019. But that quickly became a challenge when the coronavirus emerged. Ultimately, the organization offered in-person and virtual options for the . . .
Roanoke Times, February 21, 2021
BLACKSBURG — “Lawyers who sued Virginia Tech on behalf of former cadets blasted the university on Sunday, alleging that its statement about the cases violated the confidentiality provisions of the settlements. Tech said Friday that it was ‘pleased with the outcome’ of the lawsuits, adding that the settlements affirmed that the policies and procedures of the Corps of . . .
Roanoke Times, January 29, 2021
ROANOKE — “A violent dispute at a northwest Roanoke apartment complex last winter left one victim dead by gunfire and will send another man to prison for just over five years.
The case was resolved by plea agreement Friday, at a hearing initially slated as an arraignment ahead of a two-day murder trial that was to begin . . .
Roanoke Times, March 11, 2022
ROANOKE — “Charges were dropped this week against a Roanoke man accused of forcing his way into a house and firing shots as he left.
Neither a witness who testified at a preliminary hearing nor security footage from a neighboring home could identify 32-year-old Rahyeem Tyquan Baker in the case, said defense attorney Rob Dean. ‘Mr. Baker . . .
Roanoke Times, December 3, 2021
ROANOKE — “Michael Tyrone Terry kept his head bowed, eyes closed tight, as a jury rose Thursday to announce its decision in a case where Terry stood accused of murder, attempted rape and abduction.
As the verdicts were read aloud, Terry, 41, lifted his eyes toward the ceiling, blinking back tears: Not guilty. Not guilty. Not guilty.
One . . .
On April 11, 2020, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed into law a bill to decriminalize marijuana possession. Here is a summary of the key provisions of the law that go into effect on July 1, 2020:
Under Va. Code§ 18.2-250.1:
Possession of small quantities of marijuana (less than one ounce) shall now be a civil offense punishable with a $25 fine
No court costs . . .
If you have been arrested on a DUI / DWI charge, you might be thinking right now that the state prosecutor has an easy path to a conviction.
You were stopped driving home; the officer arrested you, took a breath sample, and it was above 0.08. Open and shut, right? Not so fast. There are many ways to challenge it.
There are . . .
