Over a dozen homes threatened due to 500-acre wildfire in Buchanan County. The Virginia Department of Forestry reports that a 15-member crew responded to the fire at 4 p.m. Friday and are still fighting the fire. A helicopter doused the fire from above, allowing crews to build fire lines all the way around the flames that at one point threatened dozens of structures. Damage was prevented to any homes. Crews are now in the mop-up phase, which entails going back to the lines and looking for hotspots and other concerning areas. This is the third wildfire in Southwest Virginia recently, as last week there was a 400-acre fire in Lee County and another 200-acre fire in that area over the weekend. The VDF encourages community members not to burn anything outside, especially with dry weather and windy conditions. 

Big Stone Gap man accused of setting a fire in bathroom at field in Pennington Gap. The Pennington Gap Police Department reports that 42-year-old Michael Newberry was found on video leaving a restroom at Leeman Field after setting a trashcan on fire. The footage also showed Newberry damaging Halloween lights on a nearby stage. He has been charged with arson to an unoccupied building, entering the property to damage, and destruction of property. 

Three adults and a juvenile have been charged in Wise County assault investigation. The Wise County Sheriff's Office reports that their investigation into an assault that reportedly occurred on October 30 in the Mill Creek area of Pound has led to the arrest of four people on felony assault charges. Kennedi Addington,18, of Pound, Gage Alexander Bowman, 18, of Wise, and Desirae Brook Mullins, 25, of Wise, along with a juvenile whose name is not being released were charged. No further details have been released. The investigation remains ongoing. 

Big Stone Gap man sentenced to 30 years in prison for child sex crimes. 31-year-old Christopher Davis Crowder was sentenced in connection to multiple charges of indecent liberties with a minor and aggravated sexual battery. The court decided to sentence Crowder to ten years in prison for each of indecent liberties charges and 20 years with ten suspended for his aggravated sexual battery charge. Crowder will also have ten years of supervised probation following his release. In July 2021, he became involved in the lives of a family friend and her children, offering help with transportation. Crowder did it all to gain access and trust in an effort to sexually molest and victimize young boys, according to Wise County Commonwealth's Attorney Steven Davis. He remains in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail, awaiting transfer to a Virginia Department of Corrections facility. 

There will be no charges filed after the death of an inmate at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Duffield in May. 43-year-old Sherri D. Cook, of Whitesburg, Kentucky, was brought to the Duffield Jail on May 20 on charges of DWI and child neglect. Cook's behavior, along with self-inflicted injuries and refusal of medical treatment, led her to being placed in a safety chair. She was found unresponsive at 7:06 p.m. and CPR was immediately administered. Cook was transported to a hospital in Wise County where she was pronounced dead. Her body was then sent to Medical Examiner's Office in Roanoke for an autopsy, which found that she suffered an acute subdural hemorrhage with contributing methamphetamine toxicity. Buprenorphine and Delta-9 carboxy THC were also found in Cook's system. 

Dickenson County man facing six child porn possession charges. 52-year-old Brian Ray O'Quinn is accused of possessing explicit images involving a child in June. O'Quinn has been charged with one count of possession of child pornography and five counts of possessing child pornography second or subsequent offense. 

Body found in Scott County mobile home fire. The Scott County Sheriff's Office and Virginia State Police report that a fire occurred in the Big Moccasin section of Clawhammer Drive at 12:41 p.m. Tuesday. A mobile home was completely engulfed in flames. Fire departments were able to contain the fire, but a body was found inside the residence. The body was sent to the Medical Examiner's Office in Roanoke. The fire remains under investigation. 

One person is dead following a fatal crash in St. Paul Thursday afternoon. The crash reportedly occurred at around 1 p.m. Thursday on Route 63 in St. Paul. One man died at the scene, while two others were taken to the hospital, but have been released. The name of the deceased has not been released pending notification of family. The St. Paul Police Department is conducting the investigation with assistance from Virginia State Police.