He grew up in Harrisonburg, VA and graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law in 1991. He served in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for the City of Richmond, VA as well as Henrico County. As a prosecutor, he led both the violent crimes unit & the drug prosecution teams. He was appointed as Special Counsel to the Multi-Jurisdiction Grand Jury for the City of Richmond & the Counties of Henrico, Hanover & Chesterfield. In 1999, as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, he served as co-counsel in the prosecution of a “takeover” capital murder & bank robbery case. After more than a year of preparation and a successful trial, he & his team were presented with the Director’s Award from United States’ Attorney General, The Hon. Janet Reno, in Washington, DC.