Buchanan County Jailer Charged With Obstruction Of Justice

United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that a federal grand jury has charged David Shawn Hicks, age 37, a former jailer at the Buchanan County Jail, in Grundy, Virginia, with obstruction of justice and providing false testimony before a federal grand jury and in a civil deposition. The defendant's false testimony and obstruction of justice related to the investigation of the death of Ms. Tina Stiltner in January, 2002.

“The family of Tina Stiltner and the citizens of our community deserve the truth from Deputy Hicks about how Ms. Stiltner died,” said United States Attorney John Brownlee. “We will no longer tolerate his lies and deceit about her death.”

On Thursday, January 31, 2002, at about 8:30 a.m., Tina G. Stiltner, a 39-year old Buchanan County, Virginia, homemaker was arrested by a Buchanan County deputy sheriff after dropping her children off at school. According to the deputy, Ms. Stiltner was driving erratically and swerving her car. Once stopped, Ms. Stilter failed sobriety tests and was having difficulty speaking and walking. Ms. Stiltner was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs and two counts of child endangerment.

Following her arrest, Ms. Stiltner was transported to the Buchanan County jail facility in Grundy. She arrived at the jail at approximately 9:00 a.m. At approximately 2:39 p.m., deputies found Ms. Stiltner in her cell. Ms. Stiltner was motionless and unconscious. Read more at usdoj.gov