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Another Buckingham official charged

By Brian McNeill

Published: April 16, 2008

BUCKINGHAM — Another Buckingham County elected official has found himself embroiled in controversy — and, this time, facing a misdemeanor charge.
Days after a member of the Board of Supervisors was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, a member of the county’s School Board was charged with misdemeanor assault.
Thelma Llewellyn, the school system’s director of personnel and federal programs, sought the charge against School Board member Russell “Pete” Gowin in connection with an incident that followed the April 9 board meeting.
Llewellyn told authorities that Gowin bumped into her, knocking her into a chair.
She visited the Sheriff’s Office on Thursday to swear out a warrant against Gowin, who was first elected in November and is a former gym teacher and football coach at Buckingham County High School.
Gowin declined to comment on the incident Tuesday. He will appear in court Friday morning on the misdemeanor assault charge, which can carry a maximum penalty of up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Llewellyn, a 14-year veteran of the county’s school system, also declined to comment. She did say, however, that she was not seriously injured.
The School Board’s vice chairman, H. Ed Wise, said he was informed about the incident Friday morning but did not know details of what happened or what sparked the dispute.
“I guess my statement would be that this is a distraction we don’t need,” Wise said.
Two nights before the School Board scuffle, another Buckingham County elected official found himself facing a criminal charge. Supervisor Joe N. Chambers, an elected board member since 1991, was pulled over by authorities on Route 20 and arrested on a DUI charge, according to court records. Chambers did not return a call for comment.
Chambers was the subject of a February investigation by The Daily Progress that found he owed Buckingham County more than four years’ worth of unpaid real estate and personal property taxes. In total, Chambers owed the county $4,500 in back taxes, according to documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
Shortly after the story appeared, Chambers paid the county $75 and set up a payment plan.
Of 46 supervisors and city councilors in Central Virginia, only one other owed any unpaid real estate or property taxes at the time. That official, Danny Allen, is also a member of Buckingham’s Board of Supervisors.
Add it all up, said Tom England, owner of Lucky Convenience Stores in Dillwyn, and Buckingham comes out looking poorly.
“We as a county should be ashamed at what’s going on,” England said. “This is a screwed-up county.”
Of a dozen Buckingham County residents interviewed Tuesday morning, few were willing to speak on the record.
“You gotta keep your mouth shut around here. Everybody’s kin to everybody,” said one farmer who declined to give his name. “But I tell you, man, there’s some serious dirt in this county.”
Not everyone was ticked off.
“It’s a shame when people in leadership positions get in trouble, but that’s just life,” resident Peggy Davis said. “Getting a DUI? That can happen to anybody. That happened to me once, but I was 18. I’m 70 now.”

Reader Reactions

Posted by ( cpage ) on April 22, 2008 at 3:15 pm

As someone who has lived in Buckingham for “only” 30 years, I tried to stay out of the rather personal arguments posted in reader reactions. BUT - there are two things in the discussion that I now feel I must comment upon.

1) Danny Allen has raised 9 children, 5 adopted when their parents were unable to care for them and 7 still at home, his wife works at home as a baby sitter, and he DOES pay his taxes. All county citizens are permitted to pay late with a fee and interest, and it is said that Mr. Allen simply has to wait for his federal income tax refund in order to cover the county taxes. Leave Mr. Allen and his family out of this discussion.

2) The drug problem in Buckingham County was not exactly “cleaned up” during the last sheriff’s term. In fact, the Daily Progress (not the local paper) reported on several cases that prove this. (Again, I donï¿½t want to bring personal argument into this discussion.) The drug problem is everywhere, and every community has to do the best they can to educate their youth and to combat poverty and outside influence. I doubt quite seriously that ï¿½drug dealers and users will thriveï¿½ because a new sheriff was elected.

It is extremely unfortunate that the county is mired in the ï¿½good olï¿½ boyï¿½ network, and that our (bad) news is not reported locally. I believe that personal relationships within and among opposing political factions are the reasons for this. No one wants their own dirty laundry put before the public, but some donï¿½t hesitate at all to call in neighboring media to expose someone elseï¿½s.

Now, it is true that when a crime is committed by a county official, citizens have the right to know. And if the official is found guilty of that crime, he should be removed from office ï¿½ whether or not his constituents can come up with a replacement! There are many good people in this county who are willing to look at cases individually and make their own judgments. We have a court system - and we donï¿½t need this issue decided in the newspaper. Nor do we need people continuing to hold on to grudges created in a past political campaign.

This whole forum sounds like the sheriffï¿½s race all over again. Isnï¿½t it funny (and fortunate for those involved) that the discussion has changed so much from the incident that was originally reported?

People of Buckingham ï¿½ wake up! There is someone in this town purposefully trying to make people with opposing opinions look like fools ï¿½ and ï¿½hillbilliesï¿½ we are not! We are mannerly and gracious people who want to protect our community from negative forces whether they come from the ï¿½newcomersï¿½ or the ï¿½old-timersï¿½. If there are problems, we want to solve them. But publicly denigrating other citizens is shameful in itself, and should not be tolerated ï¿½ even if the person(s) doing the denigrating seem to be more educated and more sophisticated. Remember, actions speak louder than words, and conduct yourself accordingly.

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Posted by ( BuckinghamMS ) on April 21, 2008 at 7:54 pm

Some people seem to want to bash Tom England for his comment about how “screwed-up” Buckingham County is by telling him to “movez” if he doesn’t like it. He’s only speaking the truth and those that disagree are likely the ones who are responsible for the county goverment being like it is. Thank God for people like Tom England. Buckingham County needs more people in it like him who have made a large contribution to the community by bringing modern, respectable businesses to Buckingham that provide employment and like so many of us, wish to see the county’s tarnished reputation improved. If Mr Chambers lost loved ones or whatever his personal losses are, that still does not give him the right to drive drunk and endanger the lives of others on the road. His personal losses are just that, personal. It is not something that justifies an article in the news. The big question is why is this man on the Board of Supervisors if he hasn’t paid his own taxes for 5 years? He and Danny Allen are the only 2 supervisors in the whole state of of Virginia that are behind on paying their taxes and both are in Buckingham County. What wonderful role models and county representation. What would happen to the average citizen in this county(or any)who chose not to pay their taxes? We’re not sick of hearing about Joe Chambers debt, or anyone else’s, we’re sick of nothing ever being done about it. Buckingham County had a Sheriff who was actually doing something about the drug problem here. Believe it or not, like it or not, THERE IS A DRUG PROBLEM IN BUCKINGHAM COUNTY and it’s been a problem for many years. Now that he’s gone, the drug dealers and users will thrive once again. Anyone ever see or hear from the new sheriff? I have lived here all my life and I’m proud of my home and my family, but there is nothing to be proud of with Buckingham being so well known in the state for these sort of colorful issues that are finally being exposed to the public. Thank you, Daily Progress for doing these reports on Buckingham County when other news sources won’t. Keep up the good work.

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Posted by ( t2by4 ) on April 21, 2008 at 12:29 pm

I agree with starr to a point, the Progress is not slandering anyone, the “Rev” is doing it to himself and the Progress is pringting the truth. But for the church goers thing, from what I have seen and learn from the people in Buckingham is that everyone in Buckingham wears two faces, whether you go to church or not. Why would it be un-christian to drink if Jesus turned water into wine? There is nothing in the Bible about not drinking, it says not to get drunk. And as for refusing to go to church because of what you saw, don’t stop going to church, be an adult and take the initiative to change what you don’t like. Set an example, don’t run from it.

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Posted by ( starr ) on April 20, 2008 at 2:10 pm

How can a person say the daily progress is slandering or ruining a person when all they are stating is the truth. As for"THE CHURCH GOERS” some of the worst people you will ever meet claim to be christian and do right but they wear two faces from what i have seen-a good example “Rev” Chambers -DUI? Is it christian like to drink? This is the very reason i will never step foot in a church again.I grew up going to church and i din’t like what i saw and still don’t. I know many “so called christians” and not one lives the way they should,so i’ll keep praying from home thank you very much.The Daily Progress has given many of the citzens of Buckingham the voice they need and courage to speak up for what is right.We thank you!:)

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Posted by ( starr ) on April 20, 2008 at 1:59 pm

I think it’s great someone is stepping in to uncover all this shame in our county! If you want a big story to work on for all the animal lovers like myself the daily progress should investigate why no one is doing anything about the horrible conditions at the beathe animal shelter-the Englands Janice and Jim have been preventing adoptions,not giving vet care to the animals feeding outdated rat feces infested food to them. The animal control ,state vet ,and commonwealth attorney visited and took notes and were supposed to investigate this matter Since this came about the Englands have “retired” but still in charge of the checkbook!? Not many residents care what happens to the abandoned dogs and cats,but some of us do. The shelter is on rt 631 left off rt20 & right off 15 south. I encourage everyone to see for themselves. They have buried numerous dogs on the property,the rats are eating the walls inside out. It’s not fit for any living creature.Where is the dontion money going when all they by is very few cleaning supplies plus pay three employees 8.00 per hour-where is the rest? Where are the public records since it is a no-kill shelter that is tax exempt? Please for the sake of the animals look into this-the cats are all housed together and some are aids and luekemia positive and spreading it to the others. There was a pittbull in the shelter (not brought)that became pregnant and had 9 pups there.There are other people that have contacted the state about this and nothing has been done due to the Englands connection to a certain politician. Your hard investigative work is well appreciated by those of us with spines that live in this county and have compassion for animals too. SINCERELY,
ONE OF THE CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR ANIMAL WELFARE FRIENDS.

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Posted by ( buckinghamresident ) on April 20, 2008 at 10:34 am

I see in the Herald that this is Spring Clean Up Month in Buckingham. I agree that roadside trash is a bad thing, but what can we do as citizens to clean up our county government? The solution is always stated - “Elect honest officials”, but when the officials have so much power and use it to suppress, oppress & depress the community, what can be done? Let’s start by ALL attending the Board meetings and ALL trying to reason with our individual supervisors. Too many of us are unaware!

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Posted by ( OpenYourEyes ) on April 18, 2008 at 7:35 pm

How in the world can anyone continue to defend this shameful example of distrust and now criminal behavior. For those of you defending Chambers, do you really wnt your children looking up to this kind of leadership? Nice role model. Consider how many of Chamber’s votes may have been bought for County officials looking the other way. How can someone with such flagrant disregard for the law, debts and public responsibility remain in office?
The Daily Progress should not let the problems in the county drop, there is plenty more to find and the Farmville Herald lacks the ability and fortitude to be the voice for the people. Stay on it! You’re only scratching the surface.

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Posted by ( Hello out there ) on April 18, 2008 at 3:51 pm

Excuse me, do you think Joe Chambers was concerned about YOUR CHILDREN while he was driving down the highway intoxicated? Come on, we all have had problems, deaths, issues. No one is immune to that type of stuff. However, am I to understand that because of this we don’t have to pay taxes and obey the law? Plllease!

Regarding The Daily Progress printing about out county - someone needs to get the word out about the uncontrollable corruption in our county government. Believe it or not, this IS GOING TO AFFECT ALL OF US!

And to you that feel The Daily Progress is picking on Buckingham:

How are you going to feel when you have to choose between gasoline or food because of the outrageous taxation that the “County Government” is about to levy against us?

How are you going to feel when your children are harmed either in or out of school because we no longer have a county sheriff’s office that is capable of protecting them much less trying to protect them?

How are you going to feel when your home is broken into and all of your valuables stolen and you call the Sheriff’s office and no one ever comes?

How are you going to feel when you are constantly having to fork up more money to the county to provide the luxury items that our Officials are ENTITLED to?

By the time you understand the seriousness of these issues IT WILL BE TO LATE.

I applaud the Daily Progress on reporting things that need to be reported. I can only hope that perhaps 20/20 or another news program will get a fix on our County and bring out all of the OTHER issues that need to be addressed. I believe that is being worked on as we speak.

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Posted by ( anna ) on April 18, 2008 at 12:13 am

Well, everyone knows the “good ole boy” system is alive and well here in Buckingham. The results of last years sheriff race is proof of that! That is why “Pete” Gowin has become a target, because he is not a member of the GOB system. He puts the well being of the students in this county first. He is not scared to take a stand up for what he believes and is willing to run for office and serve the children of this county. Which may be the reason Mrs. Llewellyn has a problem with Pete; she being in charge of federal programs and personnel and the fact that she is very good friends with the Superintendent of the schools and his wife, whom are both retiring soon, maybe Mrs. Llewellyn had a little too much power that she feels she may lose. She may have felt threaten. But the thought of Pete assaulting anyone; PLEASE! And Mr. England if you feel this county is so “screwed up” Move! OR better yet since your so vocal and you have the answers to all our problems run for office and serve the people. And yes Mr. England I voted for Danny Williams for sheriff and I do not think you did him any favors being so vocal there either. You are a smart man, just think before you speak.
To you Daily Progress you are beginning to write like The Star or The National Enquirer. Shame on you!

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Posted by ( buckinghamresident ) on April 17, 2008 at 9:36 pm

Thank you, Daily Progress! Buckingham is struggling with so many issues and we need your presence to get the word out. No one from the local papers or radio stations will touch any controversial issues, so things just continue as they have been for years. We need honesty and integrity here in our leadership. Again, I say Thank you!

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