CHARLES CITY CO., Va. (WRIC) — A Petersburg police officer running for the office of Charles City County Sheriff is facing charges of election fraud.
According to Virginia State Police, 46-year-old Vance R. Richards turned himself in to state police on Wednesday and was released on bond.
Richards is an officer with Petersburg Bureau of Police whose status as of Wednesday, September 9, is on leave without pay, according to Petersburg spokesperson Esther Hyatt said. His sworn police powers have also been withdrawn.
In June of 2015, state police were contacted by the Charles City County Commonwealth’s Attorney to investigate allegations that Richards used to file his application for elected office in Charles City County. A grand jury in Charles City County recently issued six indictments of making false statements on legal forms.
According to his campaign page, Vance Richards for Charles City County Sheriff, Richards has spent the past 24 years working in law enforcement, including stints with the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office, Charles City County Sheriff’s Office.
Virginia State Police say their investigation remains ongoing.
