Mandatory Drug Sentence Handed Down In Circuit Court
On February 9, 2010, Dallas Crusenberry received a 7-year sentence upon his conviction for drug distribution. The conviction was Crusenberry's 3rd or subsequent conviction for distribution of schedule 1 or 2 controlled drugs. By statute, 5 years of that sentence is a mandatory minimum which cannot be suspended by the court. Following his release from incarceration, Crusenberry must serve a term under Supervised Probation.
Friday, February 12, 2010 8:14 AM
Lee County Man Receives 7-Year Sentence for Firearms Offenses
On January 28, 2010, Scott Christopher Clem entered guilty pleas on multiple felony charges: Grand Larceny of a Firearm, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Felony Habitual Offender x 2, and Felony Eluding a Police Officer. On those offenses, Clem received a 7 year mandatory minimum sentence, which cannot be suspended. Following his release from prison, Clem will also serve 5 years on Supervised Probation and 3 years on Unsupervised Probation.
Sunday, May 4, 2008 9:04 PM
Jury Convicts Man for Prescription Fraud -- Imposes Max Sentence
On Tuesday, April 29, a Lee County jury found Wilburn Junior Hale, 33, Pennington Gap, guilty of felony prescription fraud and conspiracy. The Commonwealth's evidence established that Hale, together with his girlfriend, plotted a way to obtain controlled narcotics using an old prescription taken from the girlfriend's mother. Hale and the girlfriend changed the date and dosage listed on the prescription. Hale persuaded his girlfriend to take the prescription into Food City in Pennington and pass it off as real. Because Hale was on federal probation, they decided, he would not take the chance on taking the prescription into the store. The plot unraveled once the prescription was given to the pharmacist. He immediately observed that the prescription appeared to have been altered. The police were called. The girlfriend later gave statements to police implicating herself and Hale. She gave police a full accounting of how they planned to get Lortabs by using the forged prescription. The jury sentenced Hale to the maximum sentence under the law of five years in prison for each charge. Those sentences run consecutively for a total, effective sentence of ten years.
Friday, December 1, 2006 1:50 PM
AYERS' CAPITAL MURDER CONVICTIONS FIRST IN LEE COUNTY SINCE 1925
On Thursday, October 29, 2006, Jimmy Allen Ayers, 29, of the Jasper area of Lee County, entered guilty pleas on three counts of Capital Murder, one count of first-degree murder, one count of robbery, and four firearms counts. In total, Ayers shall serve 4 consecutive life sentences, plus eighteen years for his crimes. In Virginia, a life sentence means that a full life term is served with no possibility of ever being released.
On February 17, 2004, Ayers shot and killed his great-grandparents, Sherman and Hazel Bush, in their kitchen, robbed them of approximately $800 cash and their pickup truck, then went shopping at Walmart where he was captured on camera using his great-grandparents' money to buy speakers which he then installed in the truck.
Ayers was apprehended at gunpoint by Lee County Sheriff Gary Parsons as Ayers drove back into Lee County that evening. Following his arrest, Ayers told Lee County investigators that drug dealers had killed his great-grandparents in his presence. However, after an extensive investigation into Ayers' story proved it to be completely false, the case against Ayers was complete. Ayers has been incarcerated since being taken into custody that day of the killings.
Ayers' capital murder convictions are the first in Lee County since William Spencer's convictions in 1925.
Monday, August 28, 2006 2:51 PM
SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED TO SERVE 21 YEARS IN PRISON
Brian Keith Graham, of Jonesville, Virginia, has been sentenced to spend the next twenty-one years locked up in the Virginia State Penitentiary. In April 2006, a Lee County jury convicted Graham of seven counts of having sex with a 14-year old child. The jury recommended Graham serve 3 years in prison on each conviction for a total of 21 years. On August 21, 2006, Judge Birg E. Sergent denied Graham's motion to reconsider the jury verdicts. Judge Sergent then imposed the full 21-year sentence on Graham and fined him a total of $7,000 for the offenses. The Commonwealth's Attorney commends the hard work of everyone involved in the prosecution of these cases and especially commends the bravery of the victim in coming forward and testifying about the crimes committed against her as a child.
Monday, July 24, 2006 6:12 AM
Lee County Man Sentenced to 16 Years on Rape Charge
On July 19, 2006, Harold Austin Owens, Jr., received a 16 years and 1 month sentence from the Lee County Circuit Court. Previously, Owens pled guilty to having sexual intercourse with a twelve year old female in June of 2004. The Commonwealth alleged that the female child became impregnated from the relationship and, subsequently, suffered a miscarriage. The Court sentenced Owens to serve twenty years in the Virginia State Penitentiary with three years and eleven months suspended. Following his release from prison, Owens shall be placed on Supervised Probation and must register as a sex offender.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006 7:49 AM
Defendant Convicted of Larceny from Undercover Informant
On Monday, July 10, 2006, a Lee County jury convicted Ezra Lee Rogers of Larceny by False Pretenses. The Commonwealth's evidence showed that Rogers set up a drug deal with an undercover informant. Rogers offered to sell the informant an Oxycontin in exchange for $160. When the informant handed the money to Rogers, Rogers told the informant that he had to get the pill from his vehicle. Rogers walked away, got into a vehicle and left the scene with the money. He did not return. The jury convicted Rogers of committing larceny from the Commonwealth of Virginia and sentenced him to serve 12 months in jail. He also received a fine of $750.
Wednesday, February 8, 2006 2:25 PM
COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY IS GUEST SPEAKER AT LEE TRIAD MEETING
Lee County Commonwealth's Attorney Shawn L. Hines served as guest luncheon speaker at the monthly Lee County T.R.I.A.D. meeting held on February 8, 2006. Hines's topic concerned crimes committed against older Americans. He urged the large crowd of T.R.I.A.D. members not to become paralyzed by the fear of being the victim of a crime. Hines further encouraged those in attendance to live smart, but cautiously, and to not let fear of crime deprive them of living a happy, healthy life.
Monday, January 30, 2006 1:57 PM
HINES ANNOUNCES ROBBERY AND CHILD MOLESTATION SENTENCES
Commonwealth's Attorney Shawn L. Hines announces the successful prosecution of Chachi Brummett, Pennington Gap, Virginia, for one count of Robbery. On January 30, 2006, Brummett entered a plea of Nolo Contendre to the charge and received a sentence of EIGHT years in the Virginia State Penitentiary. FIVE years and Six months were suspended, leaving Brummet with Two years and Six months to serve.
Also, on January 24, 2006, a defendant convicted of child molestation in August 2005, was formally sentenced to 23 Years in the Virginia State Penitentiary for her crime. Robin Garrett, Pennington Gap, was sentenced to 30 Years with seven years of that time suspended. She was ordered to serve seven years of supervised probation upon her release from prison. Garrett is required by law to register as a sex offender for life.
Monday, December 12, 2005 2:42 PM
HINES ATTENDS EXECUTIVE TRAINING PROGRAMS IN RICHMOND
Newly elected Lee County Commonwealth's Attorney, Shawn L. Hines, attended the Commonwealth's Attorney 2005 Executive Training Program as well as the 2005 Newly Elected Officer's Training Program in Richmond during the first week of December. Hines was able to network with a host of newly elected Commonwealth's Attorneys across the state. The training sessions focused on office administration, budget preparations and executive decision-making in general.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005 3:25 PM
HINES ELECTED TO SERVE AS COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY
On November 8, 2005, the people of Lee County elected current Commonwealth's Attorney, Shawn L. Hines, to continue to represent them as the county's chief law enforcement officer. Hines' present term ends in 2007. He vows to work hard to ensure that justice prevails in Lee County's criminal court system.
Sunday, September 11, 2005 6:21 PM
COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY NAMES SECOND ASSISTANT
Lee County Commonwealth's Attorney, Shawn L. Hines, announces the addition of Mrs. Damie Carter to his office as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney. Damie, a graduate of the Appalachian School of Law, comes to the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office after finishing her clerkship with the Supreme Court of Virginia.
"Damie is a great addition to the office. She will be a diligent prosecutor. Her credentials further strengthen the already high-level of quality prosecution the people of Lee County expect from my office."
Wednesday, August 24, 2005 2:40 PM
LEE COUNTY PURSE THIEF PROSECUTED, CONVICTED AND SENTENCED
Lee County Commonwealth's Attorney, Shawn L. Hines, announces the successful prosecution and conviction of William L. Slayton for third offense larceny, which is a felony under Virginia law. The trial took place on July 18, 2005, with final sentencing in the matter being held today, August 24, 2005. The defendant received a 5 year sentence with three of those years suspended by the circuit court judge. Defendant will serve the remaining two year sentence on top of a 33 month sentence he was already serving on breaking and entering charges.
Saturday, August 13, 2005 9:24 AM
JURY RECOMMENDS 30 YEAR SENTENCE IN CHILD SEX ABUSE CASE
Lee County Commonwealth's Attorney, Shawn L. Hines, is pleased to announce the jury trial and conviction of Defendant, Robin Garrett, for Animate Object Sexual Penetration of a Child under the age of 13. Following two days of testimony and evidence in the case, a Lee County jury convicted the Defendant as charged and recommended she be sentenced to 30 YEARS in the Virginia State Penitentiary. Formal sentencing in front of the Honorable John C. Kilgore, presiding Judge, will take place on December 13, 2005. Defendant is incarcerated on other charges at this time as well, and will remain in custody all the way through her sentencing date in December.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005 4:55 PM
COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY WELCOMES NEW ASSISTANT
Commonwealth's Attorney, Shawn L. Hines, is pleased to announce that Don Williams, Jr., has accepted the position of Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for Lee County. Mr. Williams will prosecute cases in all courts, but his primary focus will be in the General District Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Mr. Williams brings with him criminal prosecution experience as he is also currently serving as town prosecutor for the Town of Pennington Gap. He will be working in the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office on a part-time basis which will allow him to continue his private law practice in Pennington Gap. Welcome aboard.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005 4:48 PM
WELCOME TO MY WEBSITE
As your Commonwealth's Attorney, I am honored to welcome you to the new website of the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. In this website, you will be able to learn more about the criminal process in general as well as be able to learn about specific cases and court dates. Feel free to look around and, once again, thank you for visiting!
Shawn L. Hines
Commonwealth's Attorney
