Man convicted in DUI death arrested again on DUI charge

By JEFFREY SIMMONS/Staff

On Sept. 15, Melvin Chadwick Compton sat in a Wythe County courtroom awaiting his fate on two criminal convictions stemming from a 2007 alcohol-related crash that killed his cousin.
The sentencing hearing was postponed, however, and six days later – one day past the fatal wreck anniversary – the 38-year-old Bland resident was arrested again in Bland County on suspicion of driving under the influence – the third or subsequent offense in 10 years.
He’s set to appear in Bland County General District Court today for a bond hearing on the latest felony charge.
According to court records, Virginia State Police Trooper P.J. Deel arrested Compton Sept. 21 along Virginia 61 after Compton ran a stop sign in a Chevrolet Blazer and failed field sobriety tests.
“As I approached the driver, I could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath and he was unsteady on his feet,” the officer wrote on the arrest warrant.
Compton’s blood alcohol content was .16, twice the legal limit to drive in Virginia, according to the trooper’s account.
His preliminary hearing on the DUI charge has been set for Nov. 12.
Meanwhile, Compton is scheduled to be back in Wythe County Circuit Court on Oct. 30 to be sentenced on June convictions of involuntary manslaughter and DUI-second offense.
On Sept. 20, 2007, Compton was driving a Ford Explorer on U.S. 52 when he wrecked, killing his passenger, Stanley Joel Tickle of Bland.
According to the prosecution evidence, a trooper found open alcoholic beverage containers in the vehicle, and Compton, who was injured and taken to the hospital, had a blood alcohol content of .15 the night of the crash.
In June, an emotional Compton told a judge that he regretted his role in the wreck.
“I’d just like to say that given the chance, I would trade places with my cousin in a heartbeat, and I dearly, dearly wish this hadn’t happened, but he did,” he said.
Compton was free on a $20,000 bond when he was arrested Sept. 21.
He’s being held in the New River Valley Regional Jail without bond on the latest charge pending the outcome of today’s hearing.
Jeffrey Simmons can be reached at 1-800-655-1406 or .