Nelson judge, former Lynchburg prosecutor Mike Doucette to retire

kAms@F46EE6[ H9@ ;@:?65 E96 {J?493FC8 r@>>@?H62=E9 pEE@C?6J’D ~77:46 :? `hgc 2?5 3642>6 E96 4:EJ’D 49:67 AC@D64FE@C[ 92D D6CG65 2D 2 ;F586 :? E96 acE9 yF5:4:2= s:DEC:4E D:?46 |2J a_a_] u@C >F49 @7 E92E E:>6[ 96 92D AC6D:565 @G6C E96 }6=D@? r:C4F:E r@FCE 2?5 C646?E=J 564:565 :E H2D E:>6 E@ DE6A 5@H? 2E 286 f`[ 2 76H J62CD D9@CE @7 E96 >2?52E@CJ C6E:C6>6?E 286 7@C ':C8:?:2 ;F586D]k^Am

kAm“xE’D D@>6E9:?8 x’G6 E9@F89E E@ … :E’D E:>6[” s@F46EE6 D2:5 :? 2 C646?E :?E6CG:6H] “x’G6 6?;@J65 6G6CJE9:?8 x’G6 5@?6] x =@G6 ECJ:?8 42D6D 2D 2 EC:2= 2EE@C?6J] x =:<6 36:?8 2 ;F586 2D H6==] %96J’C6 EH@ G6CJ 5:776C6?E C@=6D] x 766= E92E x’> G6CJ =F4<J :? :E[ H92E x 49@D6 7@C >J AC@76DD:@?]”k^Am

kAmp ?2E:G6 @7 r@??64E:4FE[ s@F46EE6 ;@:?65 E96 {J?493FC8 r@>>@?H62=E9’D pEE@C?6J :? `hgc 27E6C 8C25F2E:?8 7C@> E96 (:==:2> U2>Aj |2CJ {2H $49@@= :? (:==:2>D3FC8] w6 DA6?E bb J62CD[ :?4=F5:?8 2 C@F89=J `a\J62C DE:?E 2D E96 r@>>@?H62=E9’D pEE@C?6J[ :? E96 {J?493FC8 @77:46 2?5 H2D 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 r@>>@?H62=E9 pEE@C?6JD pDD@4:2E:@? 7C@> a_`g E@ a_a_]k^Am

kAmp7E6C 8C25F2E:?8 7C@> 9:89 D49@@=[ s@F46EE6 D2:5 96 E9@F89E 96 H2?E65 E@ 36 2 9:DE@CJ E62496C[ 3FE 96 =2DE65 @?=J 23@FE 2 D6>6DE6C :? 4@==686]k^Am

kAm“x ;FDE H2D?VE C625J 7@C :E] %92E[ 2?5 E96 724E E92E ':6E?2> H2D DE:== @?8@:?8[ :E H2D H:?5:?8 5@H?[ 3FE >J 5C27E =@EE6CJ ?F>36C 42>6 FA 6:89E @FE @7 bed[” s@F46EE6 D2:5]k^Am

kAms64:5:?8 E@ ;@:? 2 >:=:E2CJ 3C2?49 2>:5 E96 F?46CE2:?EJ @7 E96 ':6E?2> (2C’D @FE4@>6[ s@F46EE6 DA6?E 7@FC J62CD :? E96 p:C u@C46[ 2? 6IA6C:6?46 96 8C62E=J 6?;@J65] pE E92E A@:?E[ 96 H2D C625J E@ C6EFC? E@ 4@==686 2?5 564:565 E92E =2H D49@@= H2D E96 36DE H2J E@ 2AA=J 9:>D6=7]k^Am

kAmw6 C6>6>36C65 G:D:E:?8 r@=@?:2= (:==:2>D3FC8 2D 2 49:=5 2?5 <?6H (:==:2> U2>Aj |2CJ H2D H96C6 96 H2?E65 E@ 8@]k^Am

kAm“%@ >6[ :E H2D E96 6A:E@>6 @7 H92E 4@==686 =@@<65 =:<6 2?5 D9@F=5 36[” s@F46EE6 D2:5] “(96? x 8@E @FE @7 E96 D6CG:46[ E96 r@??64E:4FE =68:D=2EFC6 925 A2DD65 2 =2H D2J:?8 E92E :7 J@FVG6 366? :? E96 D6CG:46 5FC:?8 ':6E?2>[ H96E96C J@F 24EF2==J H6?E E@ ':6E?2> @C ?@E[ J@F 8@E E@ 8@ E@ 2?J DE2E6 D49@@= EF:E:@?\7C66] p?5 x 4@F=5?VE EFC? E92E 5@H?]”k^Am

kAm$:?46 E96?[ 96’D 366? 2 ':C8:?:2? 7@C E96 A2DE cd J62CD] $@>6 @7 9:D 36DE 7C:6?5D 2C6 7C@> =2H D49@@=[ :?4=F5:?8 C6E:C65 p>96CDE 2?5 }6=D@? r:C4F:E r@FCE yF586 |:<6 v2CC6EE]k^Am

kAm“xE H2D 24EF2==J D@CE @7 2 4:C4F>DE2?46 E92E x H@F?5 FA DE2J:?8 :? ':C8:?:2[” s@F46EE6 D2:5[ 6IA=2:?:?8 9:D H:76 2E E96 E:>6 H2D AC68?2?E[ 2?5 E92E 42FD65 9:> E@ =@@< 7@C H@C< :? ~=5 s@>:?:@?]k^Am

kAm~? 2 E:A 7C@> @?6 @7 9:D AC@76DD@CD[ s@F46EE6 C642==65 EC2G6=:?8 E@ {J?493FC8 7@C 2 `_\>:?FE6 :?E6CG:6H :? `hgc] %96?\{J?493FC8 r@>>@?H62=E9’D pEE@C?6J q:== !6EEJ[ ?@H 2 ;F586 :? ':C8:?:2’D r@FCE @7 pAA62=D[ @776C65 9:> E96 ;@3 2D 2DD:DE2?E AC@D64FE@C[ 2?5 E96 w:== r:EJ 3642>6 9@>6]k^Am

k9bmt>A92D:K:?8 25G@424J k^9bm

kAms@F46EE6 C642==65 36:?8 E96 7:7E9 2EE@C?6J :? E96 @77:46 2?5 9@H[ :? E9@D6 52JD[ E96J 92?5=65 6G6CJE9:?8[ 7C@> >:?@C EC277:4 42D6D E@ E96 >@DE D6C:@FD 4C:>6D]k^Am

kAm“x7 :E H2D 2 42D6[ H6 H6C6 E96C6 E@ ECJ :E[” s@F46EE6 D2:5] “xVG6 D66? E9:?8D 492?86 2D H6 H6?E @?] xE H2D 367@C6 E96 25G6?E @7 4C24< 4@42:?6] (96? 4C24< 4@42:?6 9:E {J?493FC8 ,:? E96 `hg_D. H6 D2H 2 9F86 :?4C62D6 :? 4C:>6 2E E92E A@:?E :? E:>6]”k^Am

kAmw6 D2:5 96 =@G65 9:D E:>6 :? E96 {J?493FC8 @77:46[ D6CG:?8 2D 2? 2DD:DE2?E E9C@F89 `hh_ 2?5 E96? 2D 56AFEJ] w6 D2H >F49 492?86 :? E96 4:EJ 4@FCE DJDE6>[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 C6=@42E:@? @7 E96 ;FG6?:=6 2?5 5@>6DE:4 C6=2E:@?D[ C6=@42E:@? @7 E96 4@>>@?H62=E9’D 2EE@C?6J @77:46 2?5 67764ED @7 E96 4:EJ’D A@AF=2E:@? 8C@HE9 @? 42D6=@25D]k^Am

kAmx? a__e[ 96 3642>6 24E:?8 4@>>@?H62=E9’D 2EE@C?6J H96? !6EEJ EC2?D:E:@?65 E@ E96 DE2E6 4@FCE @7 2AA62=D ;F586D9:A] w6 6?;@J65 H@C<:?8 7@C !6EEJ[ DE2E:?8 E96 EH@ H6C6 “4FE @FE @7 E96 D2>6 4=@E9” 2?5 DEC:G65 E@ 36 25G@42E6D]k^Am

kAm“(6 H6C6?VE ;FDE 8@:?8 E@ 36 A2A6C AFD96CD 2?5 ;FDE 8@[ ‘2== C:89E[ 96C6VD H92E E96 4@AD 8:G6 FD]’ (6 ECJ E@ 8@ :? 2?5 C62==J 25G@42E6 E96 42D6[” s@F46EE6 D2:5] “(6 5:5 2 =@E @7 4@?E:?F:?8 =682= 65F42E:@? H:E9 A6@A=6] (6 5:5 2 =@E @7 EC:2= 25G@424J H:E9 @FC 7@=<D E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E E96J H6C6 DEC@?8 EC:2= 25G@42E6D]”k^Am

kAms@F46EE6 6DE:>2E6D 96 AC@D64FE65 E92? 2 5@K6? 42A:E2= >FC56C 42D6D[ :?4=F5:?8 2 a__c 562E9 A6?2=EJ 42D6 E92E H2D =2E6C 4@>>FE65 E@ 2 =:76 D6?E6?46]k^Am

kAm“~7 4@FCD6[ J@F >@CA9 :E 2D J@F 86E D@>6 6IA6C:6?46[” s@F46EE6 D2:5] “x H6?E :? E9:?<:?8[ ‘~z[ J@F 5@?VE <66A 2 4@?G:4E:@? C2E6’[ 3FE … J@F 5@] %92E :D 2 325 E9:?8 E@ 5@ 2D 2 AC@D64FE@C] x7 J@FVC6 <66A:?8 EC24< @7 J@FC 4@?G:4E:@? C2E6[ J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ DE2CE >2<:?8 6E9:42= >:DE2<6D]”k^Am

kAmw6 C642==D E9:?<:?8 2 =@E @7 5CF8 4C:>6D H6C6 >@C2= 72:=:?8D 2?5 7@F?5 >2?J H6C6 >@C6 2 >2EE6C @7 255:4E:@?[ @7 2 5:D62D6] Q*@F 5@?’E ?665 E@ =@4< 6G6CJ3@5J FA 7@C 6G6CJE9:?8[Q 96 D2:5] k^Am

kAmw6 :D AC@F5 @7 E96 5CF8 C64@G6CJ 4@FCED :? {J?493FC8 2?5 }6=D@? r@F?EJ[ H9:49 8:G6 ?66565 E@@=D E@ 4FC3 5CF8 @776?D6D] k^Am

kAm“~FC A@@C AC@32E:@? @77:46CD 2C6 DEC6E4965 D@ E9:? E@ E96 A@:?E H96C6 :7 E96J >66E E96:C 4=:6?E @?46 2 >@?E9[ E92EVD F?FDF2= 7@C E92E E@ 36 E92E 7C6BF6?E[” s@F46EE6 D2:5 @7 H@C<:?8 E@ C65F46 E92E 42D6=@25]k^Am

kAms@F46EE6 C6>6>36CD 2? 2EE@C?6J D2J E96 DE2E6 “AC@D64FE6D @? E96 4962A]Q k^Am

kAm“(6 5@ 4C:>:?2= ;FDE:46 @? E96 4962A[ 2?5 x 86E E96 724E E92E E96C6VD 2 7:?:E6 D@FC46 @7 C6D@FC46 7F?5D ]]] qF:=5:?8 >@C6 ;2:=D :D ?@E E96 2?DH6C[” s@F46EE6 D2:5] “p4EF2==J[ E96 }@] ` 56E6CC6?E E@ 4C:>6 — 65F42E:@?] v6EE:?8 <:5D E@ 8C25F2E6 7C@> 9:89 D49@@= :D E96 }@] ` H2J E@ AC6G6?E 4C:>6] #2E96C E92? 3F:=5 AC:D@?D 2?5 ;2:=D[ 3642FD6 H6VC6 ;FDE 8@??2 <66A 7:==:?8 E9@D6[ 3FE J@F 86E A6@A=6 E@ 8C25F2E6[ E92EVD }@] `]Q k^Am

k9bm!C24E:4:?8 A2E:6?46 k^9bm

kAms@F46EE6 C642==65 DE2CE:?8 9:D C@=6 2D ;F586 :? |2J a_a_[ 2E E96 96:89E @7 r~'xs\`h[ 2?5 9@H F?AC64656?E65 2 E:>6 :E H2D E@ >2<6 E96 4@>A=6I:E:6D @7 CF??:?8 2 4@FCE DJDE6> H@C< H:E9 E96 >2?J C6DEC:4E:@?D] k^Am

kAm“xE H2D ECF=J 3:K2CC6[ 2?5 x 5:5?’E 5@ 2 ;FCJ EC:2= 7@C 2 J62C[” 96 D2:5] “xE H2D 2 DEC2?86 E:>6]”k^Am

kAms@F46EE6 D2:5 96 92D =@G65 9:D E:>6 :? }6=D@?[ E96 c_\>:?FE6 D46?:4 5C:G6 2?5 H@C<:?8 H:E9 8C62E A6@A=6 :? E96 {@G:?8DE@? 4@FCE9@FD6] k^Am

kAm“!2E:6?46 :D ?@E 2 DEC@?8 DF:E @7 >:?6] $@[ x H@C< C62==J 92C5 2E :E] $@>6E:>6D xV> >@C6 DF446DD7F= E92? @E96CD[ 3FE x 92G6 q2C?6J E@ C6>:?5 >6 E@ 36 ?:46 E@ A6@A=6[” 96 D2:5 H:E9 2 D>:=6[ C676CC:?8 E@ 2 DEF7765 G6CD:@? @7 E96 A@AF=2C 5:?@D2FC\E96>65 492C24E6C @? 49:=5C6?’D AC@8C2>>:?8] “xV> =@@<:?8 2E q2C?6J 2== E96 E:>6 E9:?<:?8 ‘2== C:89E … 36 A2E:6?E]’”k^Am

kAmw6 AC6D:565 @G6C E96 9:89\AC@7:=6 42D6 @7 s2?:6= q2C>2<[ 2 |2CJ=2?5 >2? 4@?G:4E65 @7 >FC56C:?8 2 (:?E6C8C66? #6D@CE A@=:46 @77:46C[ |2C< r9C:DE@A96C Qr9C:DQ (28?6C xx[ :? yF?6 a_ab F?56C E96 962GJ :?7=F6?46 @7 5CF8D] s@F46EE6 =2DE J62C D6?E6?465 9:> E@ cg J62CD :? AC:D@? 2?5 D2:5 :? 4@FCE 3@5J 42>6C2 7@@E286 @7 q2C>2< 2EE24<:?8 (28?6C H2D E96 >@DE E6CC:7J:?8 96 D2H :? 9:D 42C66C] k^Am

kAms@F46EE6 D2:5 :? E96 EC2?D:E:@? 7C@> AC@D64FE@C E@ ;F586 :D =:<6 8@:?8 Q7C@> 36:?8 2 A=2J6C E@ 2? F>A:C6]Q k^Am

kAmw:D 42C66C “7=6H 3J[” 2?5 96’D 8C2E67F= E@ =@G6 8@:?8 E@ H@C<] w6 2=D@ 92D 366? 24E:G6 :? CF??:?8 >2C2E9@?D[ 9:<:?8 2?5 >@F?E2:? 4=:>3:?8 H:E9 9:D D@?D]k^Am

kAms@F46EE6 A=2?D E@ C6>2:? :? {J?493FC8[ 6?;@J E:>6 H:E9 72>:=J 2?5 8C2?5<:5D[ 2?5 D6CG6 2D 2 DF3DE:EFE6 ;F586 2D ?66565] w6 2=D@ A=2?D E@ DA6?5 D@>6 E:>6 =:G:?8 :? %6??6DD66 ?62C 9:D D@?]k^Am

k9bmw@?@C:?8 2 >6?E@C k^9bm

kAm{J?493FC8 r@>>@?H62=E9’D pEE@C?6J q6E92?J w2CC:D@?[ H9@ H@C<65 7@C s@F46EE6 367@C6 DF44665:?8 9:>[ AC2:D65 9:> 7@C D6CG:?8 E96 4@>>F?:EJ 7@C 564256D 2D 2 C6DA64E7F= 2?5 D<:==65 AC@D64FE@C 2?5 ;F586]k^Am

kAm“w6 FD65 9:D G2DE 6IA6C:6?46 E@ C68F=2C=J E6249 2?5 EC2:? E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@? @7 2EE@C?6JD 2?5 E@ D92A6 E96 =2HD @7 @FC 4@>>@?H62=E9 3J DA62<:?8 367@C6 E96 ':C8:?:2 v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J[” w2CC:D@? D2:5] “x 2> 8C2E67F= 7@C E96 DFAA@CE 2?5 >6?E@CD9:A x C646:G65 7C@> 9:> 5FC:?8 @FC E:>6 E@86E96C H96? 96 H2D r@>>@?H62=E9’D pEE@C?6J 7@C {J?493FC8]”k^Am

kAm{J?493FC8\2C62 5676?D6 2EE@C?6J r9F4< u6=>=66[ H9@ H@C<65 `d J62CD 7@C s@F46EE6 :? E96 4:EJ 4@>>@?H62=E9’D 2EE@C?6J @77:46[ D2:5 96 H:== 2=H2JD E9:?< @7 9:D 7@C>6C 3@DD 2D 2 AC@D64FE@C]k^Am

kAm“|:<6 :D E96 >@DE <?@H=658623=6 2EE@C?6J x 92G6 6G6C >6E H96? :E 4@>6D E@ 4C:>:?2= =2H >2EE6CD[” u6=>=66 D2:5] “w:D 23:=:EJ E@ C6>6>36C DA64:7:4 42D6D 2?5 DE2EFE6D :D F?>2E4965]”k^Am

kAms@F46EE6 H@? E96 '@? $49F49 2H2C5 :? a__b 7@C 36:?8 E96 E@A 2DD:DE2?E^56AFEJ AC@D64FE@C :? E96 DE2E6 2?5 E96 #@36CE u] w@C2? 2H2C5 :? a_`c 2D E96 E@A 6=64E65 AC@D64FE@C :? ':C8:?:2] k^Am

kAm“|:<6 5:5 DF49 8C62E H@C< E6249:?8 @E96CD 5FC:?8 9:D E:>6 2D 2 AC@D64FE@C[ E96 r@>>@?H62=E9VD pEE@C?6J $6CG:46D r@F?4:= 24EF2==J ?2>65 2? 2H2C5 27E6C |:<6 — E96 |:4926= #] s@F46EE6 s:DE:?8F:D965 u24F=EJ pH2C5[ AC6D6?E65 2??F2==J E@ 2 AC@D64FE@C H9@ 6I46=D :? E6249:?8 EC:2= D<:==D E@ @E96C AC@D64FE@CD[” u6=>=66 D2:5] “%96C6 :D 2? 2C>J @7 =@42= 2EE@C?6JD H9@ AC24E:46 4C:>:?2= =2H 2?5 D@>6 H9@ 2C6 D:EE:?8 2D =@42= ;F586D H9@ H6C6 2== >6?E@C65 3J 6:E96C |:<6 s@F46EE6 2?5^@C 9:D AC65646DD@C[ q:== !6EEJ] x H2D 7@CEF?2E6 6?@F89 E@ 92G6 H@C<65 7@C 3@E9]”k^Am