A Firsthand View: Caudill’s Performance as Commonwealth’s Attorney is Unacceptable

Before I worked as a Sergeant in the investigations section of the Goochland Sheriff’s Office, I had a long career with the DEA as a field agent and supervisor, and I retired as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Academy in Quantico, VA. While with the DEA, I investigated hundreds of cases and arrested many violent criminals. I took pride in my job, and I worked hand in hand with some of the best prosecutors in the country. I learned that good public safety requires the cooperation of prosecutors and law enforcement.

While at the Sheriff’s Office, I had frequent contact with Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Caudill. I quickly realized that Caudill had little interest in the cases brought before him. Caudill did not work well with law enforcement; he was rarely prepared for court; and he consistently undermined our investigations by making lenient plea agreements without our knowledge.

While I acknowledge that prosecutors will sometimes reduce charges due to mitigating circumstances, I know from experience that good prosecutors will offer leniency only after a criminal defendant has agreed to cooperate in other ongoing, criminal cases. Unfortunately, Mr. Caudill routinely reduced or dismissed these charges without even trying to elicit that cooperation. Criminals talk, and we found that most defendants, having no fear of the system, refused to help us follow up with other cases. Below are some examples.

A few years ago, we identified a man who was supplying marijuana to more than 20 students at the Goochland High School. He confessed and we arrested him for felony distribution. Caudill, without consulting or notifying us, offered to let this man plea to a simple misdemeanor with no jail time. When we found out about this, we confronted Caudill and adamantly protested given the fact that this man was supplying drugs to school age juveniles. In this case, Caudill relented and prosecuted felony charges. However, as we found in so many other instances, the defendant faced no threat of incarceration, and the plea agreement did not require him to work with us. This became problematic when we ultimately arrested this man’s supplier, a dealer supplying more than 30 customers. That supplier, a previously convicted felon, benefitted from Caudill’s lenience as well. After another soft plea agreement, that dealer served just six months in jail and was not required to work with the Sheriff’s Office in pursuing other dealers.

Not only did Mr. Caudill show little interest in prosecuting our cases, but he also refused to put informants in front of the investigative grand jury, a t¬¬ool routinely used by prosecutors and law enforcement to uncover criminal activity. When we learned of a drug trafficking organization sourced out of California distributing cocaine, THC wax and large quantities of marijuana, we identified 9 witnesses that we wanted to put in front of the grand jury. My partner and I met with Caudill to discuss this case on multiple occasions, and we followed up with emails. Caudill showed absolutely no interest in this case. Without the grand jury testimony (under penalty of perjury) of the witnesses, we did not have enough evidence to go forward, and no one was prosecuted.

I am at a loss to explain Mr. Caudill’s actions. I found him to be aloof, dismissive, disinterested, and unwilling to work with us to pursue criminal activity. As our county grows, there will be more opportunities for crime. I want our county to remain safe, but the sheriff cannot do this alone; he needs a partner to work with him.

John Lumpkins, who is running for Commonwealth’s Attorney, has been a law enforcement officer, a federal law clerk, and a criminal defense attorney. In addition, John has demonstrated that he is the consummate team player by serving ably on both our School Board and Board of Supervisors. John is a humble, thoughtful, and honest man who understands the importance of keeping Goochland safe by having a good working relationship with law enforcement.

John will bring a breath of fresh air to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Public Safety is paramount to the well-being and success of our community. We need a Commonwealth’s Attorney who will make that a priority. Please join me in voting for John Lumpkins for Goochland Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Michael E. Blackwood
Investigative Sergeant Goochland County Sheriff’s Office 2016-2020
Assistant Special Agent in Charge Drug Enforcement Administration 1988-2014