Former Police Chief Pleads Guilty

ABINGDON, Va. – Former Damascus, Va., Police Chief Tony Richardson voluntarily went into police custody Wednesday after pleading guilty to seven drug-related charges.

In October, Richardson pleaded guilty to additional drug-related charges.

Under a plea agreement reached with prosecutors, seven additional drug counts will not be pursued.

The nine felonies to which he pleaded guilty carry a maximum of 85 years behind bars, and sentencing, set for May, will wrap up a case that began nearly two years ago.

“He is prepared today to have his bond revoked and be submitted into custody,” his lawyer, Tony Anderson, said at Wednesday’s hearing in Washington County Circuit Court.

“It is Mr. Richardson’s hope that in some way by doing so he begins today a process of cleansing and redemption and apology to the citizens of Damascus and Washington County and to his family and friends.”

Richardson was arrested in June 2007, when he was police chief, and again later that year on additional charges, along with then-Chilhowie, Va., Police Chief Dwayne Sheffield, who later pleaded guilty to a separate set of charges.

Richardson did not speak at Wednesday’s hearing.

In a 2007 interview, Richardson told the Bristol Herald Courier he was not guilty and the truth would come out.

On Wednesday, his relatives avoided questions as his mother tearfully left the courtroom.

Special Agent Brian Snedeker testified for the commonwealth that drug buys were made from Richardson by a confidential informant on three separate dates in 2007, and a later search of his home revealed drugs and weapons.

Anderson, Richardson’s attorney, revealed that the confidential source was paid for the information and had a romantic relationship with Richardson that ended several months before the drug buys.  Richardson entered his guilty plea Wednesday to two counts of imitation methamphetamine distribution, two of hydrocodone distribution and one of oxycodone distribution, as well as possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm while possessing meth.

The charges that were dropped were two counts of conspiracy to distribute meth, two counts of obstructing justice, grand larceny of a firearm, possession of hydrocodone and possession of a firearm while distributing meth.

“I’m really pleased with the outcome of this case,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Dennis Godfrey said. “With nine felony convictions he is to be sentenced on … we feel that the court [judge] will have enough information at his disposal to come up with a fair sentence.”

| (276) 791-0701