MARTINSVILLE, Va. – 4/28/2026 Update:
Colonial Heights Commonwealth’s Attorney Alfred Collins III has been appointed special prosecutor in Mayor L.C. Jones’ recall trial. Collins takes over for Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Bethany Harrison.
Harrison had previously expressed concern over a conflict of interest in the case, though it is not yet known if this is why a new prosecutor was appointed. Harrison was also facing criticism from Martinsville City Councilman Aaron Rawls, who, during an hour-long presser last week, called on her to be a better voice for the people of Martinsville.
The recall hearing for Jones, originally set for Wednesday, has been continued to a later date.
4/23/2026 Update:
Martinsville City Councilman Aaron Rawls held a press conference Thursday calling for Mayor LC Jones to be resuspended.
During the nearly hour-long press conference, Rawls said there is sufficient evidence and justification for Jones to remain suspended until his recall trial in June.
“With the allegations against him, the things that he has done, and the fact that he was suspended under law, that needs to remain in effect. He was suspended for good legal reason,” Rawls said.
Rawls also called on Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Bethany Harrison, who has been named special prosecutor in Jones’ recall case, to act as the voice of the people of Martinsville. He said he was frustrated with how Tuesday’s hearing unfolded.
“In these matters, the Commonwealth’s Attorney is the only person who can speak for the citizens,” Rawls said.
Rawls also criticized Jones’ attorneys for challenging the petition that initiated the recall, saying petitioners provided sufficient evidence for it to move forward.
“There is one group who has followed the law in this thing so far, and it is the citizens of Martinsville,” Rawls said. “There is a very clear process for the removal of an elected official in Virginia … they have followed it to a T.”
As previously reported, Jones’ suspension was lifted Tuesday after his attorneys argued he should not be suspended before due process is completed. He is scheduled for another hearing next Wednesday ahead of a June trial that will determine his future as mayor.
4/21/2026 Update:
Martinsville Mayor L.C. Jones has been reinstated to city council following a court decision Tuesday, ending a suspension that lasted more than two months as a legal challenge tied to a recall petition continues.
Jones was removed from his position in February after a group of residents filed a recall petition. A previous ruling had kept him off council until a hearing could be held, but his attorney argued that suspension violated his constitutional rights by denying him due process and preventing him from serving in an elected role.
“Every day that he is not in his proper position on the city council is a strike against him in the eyes of the electorate,” said Jones’ attorney, Mark Krudys.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Krudys also challenged the validity of the recall petition, arguing it lacked sufficient evidence and should ultimately be dismissed. He said he expects the court to throw out the case after further review.
The judge reinstated Jones but granted a continuance requested by a newly appointed special prosecutor, Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Bethany Harrison, who said she received about 150 pages of new evidence ahead of the hearing. The judge indicated a decision on how the case will proceed is needed soon.
Outside city hall, Jones said he welcomed the ruling.
“We appreciate the prudence of the judge in his decision today,” Jones said. “I look forward to getting back to work and serving the great citizens of Martinsville.”
Opponents of the mayor criticized the decision. Patti Covington, one of the residents who helped lead the recall effort, said she believes the move does not benefit the city and maintains that concerns about local government remain.
“We’ve paid for the Sands-Anderson investigation. We’ve paid for the forensic audit. Those attending city council meetings could see there was something amiss in government,” Covington said.
Covington and others have said the petition was aimed at shedding light on alleged misconduct during the tenure of former City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides.
Jones is expected to return to council at its April 28th meeting, ahead of another hearing scheduled for Wednesday April 29th. That hearing could determine whether the recall case is dismissed or moves forward, potentially to a jury trial in June.
4/20/2026 Update:
According to Mayor Jones’ attorney, Mark Krudys, Special Prosecutor Bethany Harrison reviewed the case on Thursday, felt the case should not proceed and intended to file a nonsuit. She then changed course Monday morning and plans to file for continuance at Tuesday’s hearing Krudys tells 10 News this motion for continuance comes as Harrison found new evidence and witnesses that she wants time to review.
Krudys says they plan on asking the court to dismiss the case with prejudice, filing a motion Monday morning.
Both Mayor Jones and Krudys sent 10 News a statement ahead of their hearing Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. in Martinsville Circuit Court:
“For more than two months I have been suspended from the office to which the voters of Martinsville elected me, without a hearing on whether that suspension was lawful in the first place. The Special Prosecutor reviewed this case and concluded it should not go forward. She was right the first time. I am asking the Court to bring this matter to a close — with finality — so that I can get back to the work the voters elected me to do.” - Mayor L.C. Jones
“On Thursday, the Special Prosecutor told us her independent review had led her to conclude this action should not proceed. That is the disinterested prosecutorial judgment the law calls for, and it should control. The new evidence the Commonwealth now wants more time to evaluate cannot, as a matter of settled Virginia law, save a petition that did not meet the pleading requirements to begin with. A continuance to review evidence outside the contours of what the law allows serves no lawful purpose — except to extend an already unconstitutional suspension. We have asked the Court to deny the continuance and to dismiss this petition with prejudice.” - Attorney Mark Krudys.
10 News reached out to Harrison to confirm these details but has not heard back yet.
4/1/2026 Update:
After an extensive search, Bethany Harrison, the Commonwealth’s Attorney of the City of Lynchburg has agreed to serve as Special Prosecutor for both the Criminal Investigation and the pending Civil Removal Petition.
3/20/2026 Update:
Attorney General Jay Jones has declined to assist Martinsville as a special prosecutor. Martinsville Commonwealth’s Attorney Patrick Flinn had formally requested Attorney General Jones serve as the special prosecutor in the criminal and civil investigations in Martinsville Mayor L.C. Jones.
According to Flinn, the Attorney General’s office declined to get involved due to “staffing shortages and the investigation being beyond the scope of authority of the Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Division of the Attorney General’s Office”.
It comes as Flinn seeks a new special prosecutor to handle the investigations after former special prosecutor and Beford County Commonwealth’s Attorney Wes Nance was appointed to be a Circuit Court Judge.
The Virginia State Police were already involved in investigating now-fired City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides, but need direction from either the Governor, Attorney General or a grand jury to investigate Mayor Jones because he’s an elected official.
From here, Flinn will search for a new special prosecutor. Then that special prosecutor will decide if they want to convene a Grand Jury to decide if VSP should be involved.
Update:
Martinsville Commonwealth’s Attorney Patrick Flinn is requesting Attorney General Jay Jones be appointed Special Prosecutor for “Criminal and Civil cases regarding the former and current City Council for the City of Martinsville, current and former City Administration, the pending removal petition for LC. Jones”.
Additionally, Flinn is requesting Virginia State Police investigate the matters. It comes after the previous special prosecutor for the case, Wes Nance, was appointed as a circuit court judge.
Flinn, however, wants a special prosecutor in more than just the criminal investigation into former city manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides. He’s requested to be moved off the recall petition case against Mayor Jones since the matter was first brought to his desk. Citing concerns of him having a conflict of interest in the case and his perception of the people of Martinsville wanting a third-party investigation, Flinn is now turning to Governor Abigail Spanberger for help.
In an email to 10 News, Flinn writes, “I strongly believe an objective third party must review the allegations in this petition and represent the Commonwealth going forward. Additionally, this petition raises new legal questions regarding statutes of this Commonwealth that the Attorney General is best suited to address.”
Mayor Jones is set to appear in court in June for a jury trial that will decide if he’s allowed to stay on as mayor.
Original:
The political turmoil surrounding Martinsville Mayor L.C. Jones continues to draw attention as the suspended mayor challenges a state law that currently bars him from serving on City Council.
Jones was suspended after receiving a show-cause notice tied to a recall petition filed against him. He was originally scheduled to appear in Martinsville Circuit Court on Feb. 17 for a hearing that would determine whether he should be removed from office. However, Jones requested a jury trial, which pushed the court date to June.
Under Virginia law, Jones cannot return to council while the case is pending. In a new three-page motion filed last week, Jones argues that the law is unconstitutional and violates his due process rights by suspending him from office before a final decision is made. The filing also asks the court to dismiss the show cause order and the counts associated with it. Jones has declined to comment on the suspension but previously told 10 News he believes the recall petition is unwarranted.
Some city leaders say the situation has been surprising. Councilman Aaron Rawls said he expected disciplinary action but was still taken aback by the developments.
“What’s going on here is shocking,” Rawls said. “I knew what he was doing. I expected he would be suspended and removed, but still to see it happen was surprising nonetheless.”
Councilman Rayshaun Gravely has raised concerns about the legal process, saying he believes removing an elected official before the court case is resolved raises broader constitutional questions.
“I think that we are going backwards in America and Virginia to strip a man or woman from their elected position without due process,” Gravely said.
Despite the mayor’s absence, city officials say the impact on daily operations has been limited because the role carries mostly ceremonial duties.
“The mayor doesn’t have any special powers in the city of Martinsville. It’s a ceremonial position,” Rawls said. “So not having an acting mayor, frankly, doesn’t really hurt us.”
Former mayor Gene Teague has been appointed to fill the vacant council seat during Jones’ suspension. Teague said his focus will be helping the city move forward, particularly as council prepares to work on the upcoming budget.
“How do we reduce the cost of government, or how do we at least keep it stable?” Teague said. “When you focus on those issues and not some of the auxiliary issues, I think it gets easier to kind of get along.”
Some residents say they are satisfied with how the situation is being handled so far.
“It’s a lot going on up here that needs to be taken care of,” Martinsville resident Castor Harrison said. “I think they went the right way. They’ve got to pay for their actions. They’ve got to answer to the matter before.”
Jones’ jury trial is currently scheduled for June.