I am a citizen and I think a crime has been committed. How do I report this crime?

You will need to contact the correct police authority depending upon where the crime committed. If the crime was allegedly committed within the County of Montgomery, you should contact the Sheriff's Department at 540-382-6906. If the crime was committed in Christiansburg, call  540-382-3131. In Blacksburg, you should contact 540-961-1150. In an emergency, call 911.

I am the victim in a case and I wish to drop the charges against the accused. How do I go about doing this?

If you, as a private citizen, have placed charges before a Magistrate for an offense in which the Commonwealth is involved, the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office will not agree to drop any charges prior to a preliminary hearing. You, as a private citizen, will have to have gone before the Magistrate yourself and obtained a warrant. This does not include matters in which a law enforcement officer was called and he/she obtains the warrant.

The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office takes all matters for prosecution very seriously. A warrant issued by a Magistrate is a very serious matter.

If you wish to drop charges in matters in which the Commonwealth is involved, you will need to appear at the preliminary hearing. You may then speak with the prosecutor handling the case and advise him of your wishes. The ultimate decision will be with the presiding Judge. Court costs are incurred in these proceedings. Either the Defendant or the Complainant may pay the court costs incurred.

As to matters in which you were the complainant, but a law enforcement officer was called and he/she obtained the warrant, you may only indicate your desire not to pursue charges, but cannot request that charges be dropped.

Additionally, please be advised that if you are summoned to appear in court you are not excused from appearing because you do not wish to go forward with the charges. Your failure to appear will not result in the charges automatically being dropped. The Court could issue a capias for your failure to appear. This is in essence a bench warrant subject to your arrest.

What types of cases does the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office handle?

The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of the citizens of Montgomery County. Our office only prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of Montgomery County. We do not handle civil cases, divorces, estates, wills, real estate, landlord/tenant disputes, etc.