Alleghany County Criminal History Records

Criminal history records for Alleghany County are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk and the Combined District Courts, both located in Covington. If you need to look up a felony case, a misdemeanor conviction, or an arrest record from this county, this page gives you the contact information, online search tools, and FOIA procedures to help you find what you need. Alleghany County is part of Virginia's 25th Judicial Circuit and shares courthouse facilities with the City of Covington.

Alleghany County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Alleghany County Circuit Court is part of Virginia's 25th Judicial Circuit and serves both Alleghany County and the City of Covington. It is the court of record for felony criminal cases, misdemeanor appeals, and other major judicial proceedings in this part of the Alleghany Highlands. Criminal case records filed in this court are permanent public records, maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk.

The Clerk of the Alleghany Circuit Court is Hon. Debra N. Byer. She can be reached by email at dbyer@vacourts.gov. The Clerk's Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays. The court is located at 266 West Main Street in Covington, with the mailing address at P.O. Box 670, Covington, VA 24426. The main phone number is (540) 965-1730, and the fax number is (540) 965-1732. Judges' Chambers can be reached at (540) 965-1738.

The Clerk's Office records and maintains all felony criminal cases and misdemeanor appeals in Alleghany County. It also handles deed recordation, probate matters, civil suits, adoptions, and name changes. According to the county government's official description, the Clerk files, processes, and records criminal cases which are felonies or misdemeanor appeals and performs the same tasks for civil suits. You can request records in person, by mail with a self-addressed stamped envelope, or by phone. The Alleghany Circuit Court page on the state courts website has the most current contact details.

The screenshot below was taken from the Alleghany Circuit Court official page, showing clerk contact information and hours for obtaining criminal case records.

The Alleghany Circuit Court page provides contact details, including the clerk's email address, for public records requests related to criminal history in the county.

Alleghany Combined District Courts

The Alleghany General and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Combined Courts serve the 25th Judicial District. This combined court structure handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, preliminary hearings for felonies, and juvenile and domestic relations matters for Alleghany County and the City of Covington. The court is located at 266 West Main Street in Covington.

The Clerk of the Combined Courts is Felicia Nelson. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays. The phone number is (540) 965-1720 and the fax is (540) 965-1722. The mailing address is P.O. Box 139, Covington, VA 24426. The court holds arraignments on Mondays at 8:30 AM for Covington Police and Alleghany Sheriff cases, with unrepresented defendants at 9:00 AM and represented defendants at 10:00 AM. Alleghany County Sheriff cases are heard on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. For continuances, the first one may be granted by the Judge or Clerk; subsequent requests require a motion and Commonwealth Attorney approval. The Alleghany Combined Courts page has a full schedule of hearing dates and docket times.

The Alleghany Combined Courts page shows the full weekly docket schedule and contact information for this court. The screenshot below shows that page.

The Combined Courts page for Alleghany includes the detailed hearing schedule for misdemeanor and traffic cases, which form part of the county's criminal case records.

Alleghany County Sheriff's Office

The Alleghany County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Kyle M. Moore, who took office on January 1, 2024. The office is located at 268 West Main Street, Covington, VA 24426. The main phone number is 540-965-1770. The Sheriff's Office handles all law enforcement for Alleghany County, including criminal investigations, arrests, courthouse security, and warrant service. Arrest records, incident reports, booking photos, and criminal investigative files are held by this office.

Members of the public who need arrest records or incident reports from Alleghany County should contact the Sheriff's Office by phone or in person. Under Virginia's Freedom of Information Act, public records held by the Sheriff's Office are presumed open unless a specific exemption applies. For FOIA requests directed to the Sheriff's Office, the designated FOIA Officer is Kyle Moore at 268 W. Main Street, (540) 965-1770. See the Alleghany County FOIA page for more detail on how to submit a request.

Alleghany County FOIA and Records Requests

Alleghany County has designated FOIA officers for each department that holds public records. For the Sheriff's Office, the FOIA Officer is Sheriff Kyle Moore. For the Circuit Court Clerk's Office, it is Debra Byer at (540) 965-1730. For the Commonwealth Attorney's Office, it is Ann Gardner at (540) 965-1740. All three offices are located at or near 266-268 West Main Street in Covington.

All public records are presumed to be open and may only be withheld if a specific statutory exemption applies. The Alleghany County FOIA page lists all FOIA officers and their contact information. You can submit a request by mail, email, or in person. The screenshot below is from that official county FOIA page.

The Alleghany County FOIA page lists designated officers for submitting public records requests to the Sheriff's Office, the Circuit Court Clerk, and the Commonwealth Attorney.

Search Criminal History in Alleghany County

Virginia's online court case systems cover Alleghany County records. For circuit court criminal cases, use the Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS). This tool lets you search felony and misdemeanor appeal cases by name or case number. Records go back to early 2009 and include charge details, dispositions, and sentencing information.

For misdemeanor and traffic cases from the Combined District Courts, use the Virginia General District Court online system. The statewide portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home links to both systems and lets you select Alleghany County directly from a dropdown menu. Online records are updated periodically, so they may not always reflect the most current status. Contact the Clerk's Office to verify any specific case.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

Statewide criminal record checks in Virginia go through the Virginia State Police CARE office at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike North, Richmond. Use Form SP-167 for a public name-based search. The VSP record check page has all forms and instructions. Virginia Code 19.2-389 governs how criminal history record information can be shared with the public, courts, law enforcement, and authorized entities. For legal questions, the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 552-7977 offers a 30-minute consultation for a pre-paid fee.

VADOC Inmate Locator

The VADOC inmate locator lets you search for people held in Virginia Department of Corrections custody. You can search by name or seven-digit inmate ID. The tool shows the facility and expected release date. It does not show people held in local jails in Alleghany County. For that, contact the Sheriff's Office at 540-965-1770. VADOC data is updated daily but may lag behind actual transfers.

Criminal Records Access in Alleghany County

Criminal case records in Alleghany County are generally public under Virginia Code Sections 16.1-69.54:1 and 17.1-208. This includes court filings, dockets, case dispositions, and sentencing orders. You can view them at the courthouse, access them online through the state court systems, or request copies from the Clerk's Offices.

Restricted records include juvenile case files, expunged records, and records related to ongoing investigations. Virginia Code 19.2-389 sets the rules for disseminating criminal history record information held by state agencies like the VSP. Under that statute, certain entities can access records that are not available to the general public. If you believe a record is being wrongly withheld, you can contact the Commonwealth Attorney's Office or consult an attorney. The Alleghany County FOIA page at co.alleghany.va.us explains the process for challenging records denials for county agency records.

Cities Near Alleghany County

Covington is an independent city that is geographically surrounded by Alleghany County and shares courthouse facilities with the county.

Nearby Counties

Alleghany County sits in the Alleghany Highlands and borders several mountain counties in western Virginia.