Tensions were high at the Amherst County Board of Supervisors’ Nov. 18 meeting as the board and Sheriff Jimmy Ayers raised strong concerns with a recent Brady letter Amherst County Commonwealth’s Attorney Lyle Carver issued on the sheriff’s department’s chief deputy and criticized the prosecutor’s decision not to attend and explain it in person.
After extensive and at times tense discussion with Amherst County’s chief commonwealth’s attorney on “Brady” letters written against a handful of county sheriff’s deputies, the board of supervisors voted 3-1 Tuesday to set county money aside to aid those officers in seeking legal advice under certain conditions.
In this June 2023 file photo, Amherst County Sheriff Jimmy Ayers speaks while announcing his campaign for sheriff on the steps of the Sarah Henry Manor House at the historic Winton property in Clifford. To the far left, directly behind Ayers, is Jamie Begley, who became the sheriff’s office’s major upon Ayers taking office on Jan. 1, 2024.
A judge has taken under advisement a change of venue request in the case of Justin Jay Sales, who is accused of aggravated murder and other charges in Amherst County and the court will attempt to seat a jury for the highly publicized homicide at a scheduled June 20 trial date.
In this June 2023 file photo, Amherst County Sheriff Jimmy Ayers speaks while announcing his campaign for sheriff on the steps of the Sarah Henry Manor House at the historic Winton property in Clifford. To the far left, directly behind Ayers, is Jamie Begley, who became the sheriff’s office’s major upon Ayers taking office on Jan. 1, 2024.
