By Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder
Rockbridge County Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Christopher Billias wants to step into his boss’ shoes.
Billias is running to succeed Robert “Bucky” Joyce, who is retiring from the elected position after serving since 2004. The commonwealth’s attorney prosecutes felony cases – crimes that can send an offender to jail for more than a year – in Rockbridge County and Lexington.
Joyce, who supports Billias, describes him as his right-hand man.
“I wouldn’t have him be my chief deputy if I didn’t think he was qualified,” Joyce said.
Joyce has worked in the commonwealth’s attorney’s office for 29 years. He says he is happy with the job he’s done, but he looks forward to spending more time with his family.
Billias says his experience and positive relationships with the community make him the right person to head the office next.
“I think I have a good reputation, and [law enforcement] has confidence in my ability,” Billias said.
If he’s elected, Billias says, he will change the way some cases are handled. He says he will always ask for drug charges to go straight to a jury trial rather than allow plea negotiations. Joyce assessed charges on a case-by-case basis. Billias thinks jury trials would help the community become involved in drug cases.
He also hopes to use outreach programs and education to give the community a better idea of the role of the commonwealth’s attorney. If you go out on the street and ask 10 people what the commonwealth’s attorney does, he says, nine would base their answer on the television show “Law and Order.”
Billias describes Joyce as low-key. His own approach, he said, is more outgoing.
He said his most notable accomplishment might have been his role in the prosecution of former Buena Vista pastor Larry Clark.
Clark was found guilty in his first trial on three charges of sex offenses against a minor and given the maximum sentence of 35 years. He is awaiting the start of his second trial, set for July.
Billias said that case is the latest in a series of successful prosecutions of sex offenses in Rockbridge County.
Billias has been in the commonwealth’s attorney’s office for seven years and Joyce’s chief deputy for four.
A Pennsylvania native, he sought to get his law degree in an area where he could see himself working. Sure enough, after coming to Lexington in 1995 to attend Washington and Lee University’s law school, he decided to stay.
The race for commonwealth’s attorney is nonpartisan, but Billias is running as a Republican. He is currently unopposed.
“Certainly my value system is aligned to the Republican values,” he said. “But that does not mean that I’m going to be looking at cases differently from someone who, for example, was elected as a Democrat.”