Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Virginia is Not for Speeders: Out-of-state Drivers Beware
Almost everyone you meet will admit they have received a traffic ticket at some point in their life. No doubt, most people violate minor traffic laws at some point. Some states definitely have harsher punishments than others. Virginia traffic lawyers see a lot of tickets issued to out-of-state drivers, sometimes disproportionate to the total… Read More »
Sweeping Change Coming to Virginia’s Gun Laws
Virginia gun laws are some of the most generous and favorable to gun owners. However, Virginia gun laws can also be confusing. Just recently, Virginia tightened its concealed carry law, which previously allowed gun owners from other states to continue carrying their weapons concealed in the state, so long as they held a valid… Read More »
Virginia Ranks Second in Trucking Accidents: Reasons Explained
With the recent economic recovery, the trucking industry has begun to see large increases in transportation needs. This has led to an increase in truck traffic on America’s roadways. Likewise, trucking accidents continue to increase in frequency and severity. Virginia truck accidents are increasing as well. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration… Read More »
Out of State Travelers Beware: No More Gun Permit Reciprocity in Virginia
If you are visiting friends or family in Virginia from out of state this year, you may want to think twice about bringing your gun with you. Although Virginia has historically recognized the concealed carry permits of most other states, new regulations have changed that. Attorney General Mark Herring recently announced that Virginia’s reciprocity… Read More »
Youth Charged with Felony Murder in Car Chase Death
An 18-year-old man is charged with felony murder, grand theft auto, fleeing the police, and multiple counts of reckless driving in a case that ultimately led to the tragic death of an innocent man on his way to go shopping for Christmas presents. Felony Murder Felony murder is statutorily defined as “[t]he killing of… Read More »
Virginia Man Sentenced to Five Years in Cigarette Trafficking Case
Yinhau (Steven) Chen of Fredericksburg was sentenced to five years in a federal cigarette trafficking case on December 22. He pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money-laundering in connection with a scheme in which he supplied interstate smugglers with large quantities of cigarettes at lower taxed Virginia prices. The smugglers then took the cigarettes… Read More »
Change of Venue Motion in Fatal Child Abuse Case Hangs in Balance
The defense has lost an early battle in the widely publicized case of a mother whose five-year-old son was found dead in her septic tank. Due to the media attention the case received, the defense has moved for a change of venue. The motion and its accompanying issues shine a spotlight on the realities… Read More »
Fatal Alcohol Involved Crash Leads to Serious Charges
A man is charged with DUI and involuntary manslaughter in the wake of a fatal accident on Route 13 in Accomack County. Virginia state troopers responded to the one-car crash on the evening of December 9th. It is suspected that speeding and alcohol contributed to the driver losing control of the vehicle and spinning… Read More »
Virginia State Crime Commission Rejects Asset Forfeiture Reform
In the second major blow to criminal justice reform in Virginia recently, the state’s Crime Commission has voted to reject proposed legislation that would require the government to first obtain a conviction or a guilty plea before subjecting the property of the criminal defendants to civil asset forfeiture. The Crime Commission is a part… Read More »
Public Defender Alleges Unethical Police Conduct
A public defender in Petersburg, Virginia is alleging police misconduct in proceedings to withdraw his client’s guilty plea. Jeffrey Fisher pled guilty to drug and gun charges earlier this year after being arrested during a raid of his home. Later, numerous disturbing facts about the case came to light that had been concealed by… Read More »
