Mountain Top Media
Man who killed Big Stone Gap police officer given second 100-year sentence
WISE, Va. – The man who admitted killing a Big Stone Gap police officer in 2021 has received a second 100-year sentence for the crime.
Michael Donivan White, 36, originally of Cross, South Carolina, was sentenced Thursday in Wise County Circuit Court for the first-degree murder of Officer Michael Chandler.
Early on the morning of Nov. 13, 2021, Chandler responded to a call to conduct a welfare check at a known drug house on Orr Street. While attempting to flee the scene, White fired his gun at the officer eight times, hitting him once in the wrist and once in the abdomen just below his bulletproof vest.
Chandler died later that day. It was his 29th birthday.
White pleaded guilty to first-degree murder last May. On Thursday, Judge Ronald Elkins sentenced him to 100 years in prison.
“Today’s sentencing brings to close a pivotal and tragic event in Wise County history, and concludes a case I wish we never had to experience in recent memory in this county,” Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney Brett Hall said.
“I’m incredibly thankful for the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice of all those involved in this case over the past few years,” Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Steven Davis said. “The death of Officer Michael Chandler greatly impacted our law enforcement community, and we will all honor his life by continuing to protect the Wise County community and prosecute crimes like this to the fullest extent of the law. To all of the men and women who worked tirelessly with us to help bring Michael White and his co-conspirators to justice over the past few years, we are forever grateful.”
This is the second 100-year sentence White has received, the first coming after he pleaded guilty to federal charges of murder of a police officer and seven drug and gun charges for his role as leader of a meth distribution conspiracy.
White is being held at Western Regional Jail in Salem, Va., as he awaits placement in the federal Bureau of Prisons.
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Mountain Top News to livestream today’s hearing in Amber Spradlin murder case
PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — Defendants in the Amber Spradlin murder case are due back in court today, and Mountain Top News plans to livestream the proceedings.
Spradlin’s body was found in the Arkansas Creek home of Dr. Michael McKinney on June 18, 2023. She had been stabbed at least 12 times in the neck and head.
McKinney’s son, M.K. McKinney, has been charged with her murder. Both McKinneys and family friend Josh Mullins are also charged with eight counts of evidence tampering for allegedly trying to cover up the crime.
All three defendants are scheduled to appear in Floyd Circuit Court for a pre-trial conference on Thursday. Defense attorneys for M.K. McKinney have indicated they plan to make motions for a speedy trial and to move the trial to another county.
Thursday’s hearing will begin at 2 p.m., Thursday, March 13, and can be viewed on Mountain Top TV, the Mountain Top TV app and on the Mountain Top News Facebook page.
The post Mountain Top News to livestream today’s hearing in Amber Spradlin murder case appeared first on Mountain Top Media.
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