Over the weekend, a former Virginia lawmaker was arrested on felony gun and drug charges as well as a misdemeanor charge of violating a protective order. Matt Fariss, who previously served in the House of Delegates as a Republican and later ran unsuccessfully as an independent, was booked at a Blue Ridge Regional Jail facility early Sunday.
According to Lt. Jarrett Rea of the Campbell County Sheriff's Office, Fariss faces charges of possession of a Schedule I or II drug, possession of a Schedule I or II drug while possessing a firearm, and misdemeanor violation of a protective order. Rea confirmed the charges but did not provide further details about the allegations or the circumstances leading to Fariss' arrest. More information is expected to be available on Monday.
As of Sunday afternoon, it was unclear whether Fariss had retained an attorney to represent him. Jail records indicated that he remained in custody, with a court date scheduled for Monday. However, the state's online court system did not immediately reflect this date.
The arrest of the former lawmaker has raised concerns and garnered attention, given his previous role in the House of Delegates. The community awaits further developments in this case as it unfolds.
