Chamber News

Stephanie Vipperman to Seek Another Term as Commonwealths Attorney

I believe anyone who breaks the law deserves to be held accountable for their actions. The number of felony defendants my office has prosecuted has increased by 33% throughout my years in office. I attribute this rise to high-quality, professional investigations from the Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies, as well as charging based on the evidence and not the person.

Our Victim-Witness Office has assisted victims in computing the financial effect crimes have had on them.  My office, in turn, has argued fervently in courts for every penny that not only individual citizens are owed, but also businesses, insurance companies, Medicaid, hospitals, etc. are also owed.  By considering the financial impact on businesses and third-party agencies, we are helping to keep costs and premiums down for the community at large.

A number of violent criminals and juveniles have received serious sentences for their crimes.  For example, since I took office, a sex offender received a life sentence, a drug dealer received 80 active years, and a man convicted of malicious wounding received 15 active years.  We have also obtained several juvenile sentences that included over a year in a juvenile detention center with further confined rehabilitation at group homes upon release.

Lastly, we have worked together with the Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies throughout their investigations to ensure innocent people are not unfairly accused and charged with crimes.  Even after charges are placed and prosecution begins, we continue to analyze the case and evidence.  If we decide at any point that an innocent person has been unfairly charged, we quickly request the case be dismissed.

It has been an honor and a privilege to have served this county and attain the goals I originally set out to achieve eight years ago.  I could not have done so without the help of my dedicated staff which includes Marcus Brinks, Nancy Belcher, and Tanya Haynes; the Sheriff’s Office; other law enforcement agencies; clerk’s offices; and county offices.  However, there is still so much I’d like to accomplish, new goals to pursue and new ideas to implement.  For example, when victims sometimes alter their stories prior to trial, especially in domestic violence cases, I’d like our office to become more efficient and effective at gathering outside evidence that could prove the defendant’s guilt without the victim’s testimony.  I’d also like to work with the Sheriff’s Office to find and obtain a grant-funded position for a dedicated domestic violence/ child abuse/ sexual assault investigator.

With the continued support and trust of the citizens of Patrick County, I promise to use my experience, judgment and integrity to justly prosecute all criminal activity in our county.