Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Lawmakers Mull Anti-Bullying Bill
In January 2026, about a year after a ten-year-old child and alleged bullying victim committed suicide, Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Roanoke County) introduced Autumn’s Bill on the floor of the State Senate. According to Autumn’s family, the bullying began when she started the year at Mountain View Elementary School in the fall of 2024. The… Read More »
Defending a DUI-Drugs Case in Northern Virginia
In many areas, DUI-drugs are more prevalent than DUI-alcohol. The problem is widespread. Over 40 percent of drivers in fatal crashes test positive for drugs. Because of this high percentage, law enforcement officers aggressively arrest “drugged” drivers. Sometimes, this aggression comes back to haunt the state in court, as officers collect little compelling evidence… Read More »
Sacred Spaces, Scattered Statutes: Understanding Virginia’s Fragmented Church Law Part One
By Robert Showers, Esq., with Justin Coleman, Esq., and William R. Thetford, Esq.* In this Article, the Authors have outlined portions of Virginia statutes, case law, and tax code that are most relevant to churches seeking to become more informed about their relationship with the law. The Authors intend this Article to make legislators,… Read More »
Non-Intoxication DUI Defenses
Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charges typically allege that a driver operated a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs. However, not all DUI cases center on intoxication. In some instances, drivers are charged with DUI even when no alcohol or controlled substances are involved. These cases call for non-intoxication DUI defenses, which challenge… Read More »
Three Quick Defenses to Ordinary Assault
Virginia law doesn’t define assault. So, to determine if a defendant is guilty, courts use the common-law definition of assault. Courts define assault as an attempt or offer, with force and violence, to do some bodily hurt to another. Battery is a willful or unlawful touching. That definition describes ABC (assault by contact) in… Read More »
Should I Accept a Plea Bargain in a Drug Case?
Almost all drug crime defendants face this question. Plea bargains resolve over 90 percent of the criminal cases in Virginia. Plea bargains benefit everyone. For prosecutors, plea bargains clear their dockets faster. For judges, plea bargains conserve judicial resources. For defendants, plea bargains avoid the uncertainty of a trial. However, just because prosecutors offer… Read More »
What Happens if You Get a Speeding Ticket in Virginia?
Getting a speeding ticket in Virginia has serious legal and financial consequences, as the state has some of the strictest traffic laws in the country. What happens next depends on how fast you were driving, your driving record, and whether you choose to pay the fine or contest the ticket in court. A speeding… Read More »
Study Praises Operation Ceasefire Virginia
Ceasefire Virginia, a program designed to reduce violent crime, exceeds expectations in its approach to public safety, according to an October 2025 report. A Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Public Policy (CPP) preliminary report concludes that Ceasefire Virginia, an initiative to reduce violent crime and foster secure communities throughout Virginia, surpassed all four of… Read More »
Top Five DUI Enhancements in Virginia
Ordinary DUI is one of the worst misdemeanors in Virginia, from the standpoint of direct and collateral consequences. The average cost of a basic first-time DUI is over $10,000. Higher auto insurance rates make up much of that cost. Enhanced DUI, even first-time DUI, is much worse. Usually, prosecutors add enhancements whenever possible. Most… Read More »
Is Street Racing Legal in Virginia?
No, and quite frankly, we can’t believe you asked that question. We do understand, however, that those Fast and Furious movies and their ilk make street racing look glamorous and safe. But the reality is that street racing is unglamorous, at least for residents who must hear revving engines and motorists who must dodge… Read More »