CHRISTIANSBURG -
The Montgomery County Jail is a place where Joseph Painter, Jr. spends a lot of his time. He is a criminal defense attorney, usually at the jail to talk to his clients.
Painter, 65, was arrested Tuesday night, and now he could be spending the next few nights behind bars. Police say the initial call came in just before 11 p.m. and was about a fight between two people in a car in the Super 8 Motel parking lot.
The motel manager says Painter never made it inside the business before police arrived and that is when he was charged by Montgomery County deputies with DWI.
After a short investigation, police then charged the 65-year-old with giving a woman passenger in his car, Doris Oliver, 21, a woman he has represented in the past, a schedule four controlled substance, which is a prescription drug. He also faces charges of giving her a gun, which is illegal, because she is a convicted felon.
A special prosecutor from the City of Martinsville has been appointed to oversee the case. Painter remains in jail without bond.
A new bond hearing is not likely until early next week because county officials must bring in a judge from outside the jurisdiction. This is because Painter practices law in Montgomery County.
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A Blacksburg defense attorney was arrested overnight in Christiansburg.
According to a police spokeswoman, Joseph Painter, Jr. is facing charges of distribution of a controlled substance and distribution of a firearm to a felon.
We are told that a companion who was with Painter at the time also faces charges.
We are working to gather details of the arrest. A joint news release from the Town of Christiansburg and Montgomery County is expected soon.
Joseph Painter
Doris Oliver
