Ex-Police Chief, Tony Richardson, Sentenced

ABINGDON, Va. – Tony Richardson’s mother broke down in tears when he walked into the courtroom for his Thursday sentencing wearing shackles and an orange prison jump suit.

Her outburst exemplified what Richardson’ family and friends described as a deep-seated feeling of loss they have suffered since the former Damascus police chief was caught selling prescription drugs and methamphetamine to a police informant two years ago.

“Everybody makes mistakes and nobody is perfect,” said Amber Richardson, the former chief’s sister and a family spokeswoman. “We all love him and miss him so much. Please have mercy on my brother.”

Washington County Circuit Court Judge Byrd Sergent sentenced Richardson to five years in prison on nine drug and weapons charges. Sergent said the sentence was five months longer than what the state sentencing guidelines recommended for the case.

But it also was way short of the 30 years that Commonwealth’s Attorney Dennis Godfrey sought when he made his case against Richardson, a man the prosecutor referred to as nothing more than a “drug dealer wearing a badge.”

In October and March, Richardson pleaded guilty to eight drug charges for selling meth, imitation meth, hydrocodone and oxycodone to a police informant on several occasions in May and June 2007. Richardson also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm while distributing meth, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison.

County prosecutors dropped six other criminal charges against Richardson in exchange for his pleas, including two counts of obstruction of justice and one more of possessing a firearm while distributing meth.

Richardson’s attorney, Anthony Anderson, and the former police chief’s family members argued that the drug arrests were the result of a judgment lapse by a man who loved his job as a police officer and would do anything for those who needed his help.

Anderson also said the only drug deals prosecutors tied Richardson to involve the same confidential police informant, a woman Richardson was once romantically involved with, before he started selling her the drugs.

“She was a paid informant in addition to being a jilted lover,” Anderson said, adding that Richardson was “led astray” by this woman whom he was trying to impress.

Anderson said Richardson has lost everything, including his career and his pension because of his crimes. Richardson also will have to spend every day of his sentence in solitary confinement, because he would otherwise be targeted due to his law enforcement background.

Godfrey tried to paint a different picture of Richardson. During Thursday’s hearing, he referenced transcripts of conversations involving the informant where Richardson made statements indicating he was selling drugs to other people. Godfrey also said Richardson “gave a black eye to every honest cop” and deserved to spend extra time in jail simply because he violated the public’s trust.

“This isn’t a guy with a pure heart,” Godfrey said. “He is a man who not only made a profit off of dealing drugs, but he is also the chief of police and violated his oath.”

Godfrey requested a 135-year sentence for Richardson with all but 30 years suspended.

Anderson asked that his client be sentenced to serve only the two-year mandatory minimum sentence called for by the handgun charge.

Sergent met them halfway when he gave Richardson the two-year mandatory minimum sentence for the gun charge and a five-year sentence for each of the eight drug charges.

He then suspended all but three years of the 40-year drug sentence, giving Richardson a total sentence of five years in jail. Sergent said state sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence of four years and seven months for Richardson’s case.

“I’m satisfied this has been brought to a conclusion that could be considered fair to all,” Godfrey said after the hearing. “Any time you have someone in a position of trust who violates that trust is offensive. It brings disgrace on the whole judicial system.”

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