Baxter Stegall, assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Lunenburg County, announced his intentions to run for the Commonwealth’s Attorney post in Nottoway County.

Stegall, according to a news release, is currently circulating petitions and intends to file his Declaration of Candidacy with the Nottoway County Registrar.

Baxter currently serves as Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Lunenburg County, according to the release, “where he is involved in the prosecution of misdemeanor and felony cases of all types, including DUIs, property crimes, drug possession and distribution, sex crimes, and violent offenses such as assault, malicious wounding and murder.”

Lunenburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Clement said Stegall will continue to be Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Lunenburg, where he works part time. If Stegall wins the election, he will work full time in Nottoway County.

“I am very pleased that Baxter has this opportunity,” Clement said in a statement Tuesday. “He is a crackerjack prosecutor and will serve Nottoway County well if elected. I will undoubtedly miss him and his contribution to my office, but he deserves this opportunity.”

Stegall, according to the release, is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, where he majored in history. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Liberty University School of Law and served as an editor on the Law Review.

The release noted that Stegall practiced criminal defense work in Prince Edward County and interned with the Public Defender’s Office in Lynchburg while in law school.

Before attending law school, he served as a police officer for nearly a decade, the release cited. He was assigned to the Virginia State Police (VSP) Drug Task Force, where he worked jointly with the Nottoway Sheriff’s Office, Blackstone Police Department, Burkeville Police Department, and VSP to investigate narcotics distribution across the county.

Stegall deployed to Iraq as an enlisted squad leader in the combat arms with the Virginia Army National Guard, where he was commended for actions during the Battle of Abu Ghraib.

“He has served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, and volunteered as an adult leader with the Boy Scouts of America,” the release cited.

Stegall lives in Crewe with Kellie Reynolds Stegall, his wife and two children.