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Virginia Legal News

Driver Convicted of DUI Death Arrested Again on DUI Charge


Posted on Oct 01, 2008

Melvin Chadwick Compton awaited his sentencing on September 15th in a Wythe County courtroom for two criminal convictions associated with a 2007 alcohol-related accident that killed his cousin, Stanley Joel Tickle.  The sentencing hearing ended up being postponed.  Compton is set to appear in Wythe County Circuit Court on October 30th for the sentencing of his convictions, which include involuntary manslaughter and DUI-second offense.

The 2007 accident occurred when Compton was driving a Ford Explorer on U.S. 52 and crashed his vehicle.  His passenger was killed in the crash.  Compton was injured in the accident and taken to the hospital, but he later recovered.  According to the prosecution’s evidence, a state trooper found open alcohol containers in the vehicle and Compton’s blood alcohol content was .15 that night.  In a statement to the judge, Compton said he was remorseful for his role in the tragic accident and would trade places with his cousin in a heartbeat.  He said he wished the accident had never happened.

Six days after the sentencing was postponed, Compton was arrested on DUI charges in Bland County, just one day after the anniversary of the fatal accident that killed his cousin.  If convicted, it would be his third or subsequent offense in 10 years.  Compton was scheduled to appear in Bland County General District Court on Tuesday, September 30th for a bond hearing on the latest felony charge.

The Virginia state trooper who wrote the latest arrest warrant for Compton stated that “as I approached the driver, I could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath and he was unsteady on his feet.”  Compton’s blood alcohol content was .16, which is twice the legal limit in Virginia.  His preliminary hearing has been scheduled for November 12th.  Compton is currently being held in the New River Valley Regional Jail without bond on the latest charge pending the outcome of Tuesday’s hearing.

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