The Commonwealth's Attorney is one of five constitutional officers elected by the citizens in Goochland. The Office of the Goochland Commonwealth’s Attorney is responsible for the prosecution of all felony charges and some misdemeanor charges resulting from violations of the Criminal Code of Virginia which occur in Goochland (in many states this role is handled by an office with the title "District Attorney" or "State's Attorney"). The Office also handles certain civil matters which include forfeiture actions against property used in connection with crimes and violations of election laws. All the work of the Office is led by the Commonwealth’s Attorney, and is supported by a deputy prosecutor, paralegals, and a victim/witness services director.
John L. Lumpkins Jr.
John Lumpkins serves as Goochland Commonwealth’s Attorney. He was elected in a heavily contested race in November 2023. At the end of that year, John completed six years of service on the Goochland County Board of Supervisors. He began service in local political office in 2012 after winning a contested School Board position in 2011. That landmark year saw the election of five new School Board members, four new Board of Supervisors members, a new Treasurer, and a new Commissioner of Revenue.
A Virginia lawyer since 1988, John is a Richmond native, born and raised in Hanover County. After receiving an accounting degree from University of Dayton (Ohio), John served as a police officer with the Fairfax County Police Department. In 1985 he returned to Richmond and entered the University of Richmond Law School, where he served on the Law Review, and was a member of the McNeill Law Honor Society. While in law school, John interned with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office. After law school he clerked for a federal judge in the Richmond District of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Since then, John has worked mostly in smaller, private practice firms or in corporate settings. His experiences include criminal defense trial work in state and federal courts in Virginia. He has led teams in technology companies, and he has tried countless cases, both criminal and civil matters.
John leads an office with a deputy commonwealth’s attorney, assistant commonwealth's attorney, office manager, a paralegal, and a victim-witness director. The office’s mission is to serve the residents, businesses, and visitors to our County through our working in concert with the Goochland Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, and other law enforcement agencies. Our office is also committed to working collaboratively with our neighbors throughout the Commonwealth, in our work to improve public safety in Goochland and to hold offenders accountable for their crimes.
In addition to serving as Commonwealth’s Attorney, John is a Commissioner (Board of Director member) for CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.). CALEA was created in 1979 through the joint efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations. CALEA is the gold standard in accreditation of public safety agencies.
John lives in Goochland with his wife of 38 years, Kendra. They have three adult children, all graduates of Goochland High School.
Working with the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office
If you are victim of a crime or a witness, you will be supported by the Victim Witness Assistance program which operates out of this office. Our office is committed to providing appropriate support to victims and witnesses. We recognize that navigating the criminal judicial system typically brings with it anxiety. We will help reduce anxiety and trauma of victims and witnesses. There are resources available for victims, and our director, Stephanie Jacobs, will help you navigate the process and help you access appropriate resources in your situation.
If you are charged with a crime, you should consult with your lawyer. It is improper for the lawyers in our office to communicate with you about the allegations if you are represented by a lawyer.
If you are aware of criminal activity in Goochland, do not first call our Office. Allegations of criminal activity are investigated by law enforcement agencies, not the prosecutor's office. You should call the Goochland County Sheriff's Office at 804-556-5349 or the Virginia State Police. Those agencies investigate violations of most state and local criminal laws in Goochland.
Can the Commonwealth's Attorney give me legal advice on matters such as child custody, divorce, or estate probate matters? No. The Commonwealth's Attorney represents the Commonwealth of Virginia in criminal matters. Lawyers in private practice who take on clients from the public and work in these other areas of law will help you. If you are having difficulty finding a lawyer to represent you, call the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service at 804-775-0808.