Timothy A. Martin

Commonwealth’s Attorney

• B.A. Mary Washington University, 2000
• M.S. Virginia Commonwealth University (Criminal Justice), 2003
• J.D. University of Richmond School of Law, cum laude, 2007

Tim began his prosecution career in the City of Richmond.  He served as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney there from 2007 until 2014.  Although he handled all different types of crime, he ultimately specialized in violent crime.  After spending two years as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in the City of Staunton, he was elected Commonwealth’s Attorney for Augusta County in 2015, after unseating a 33-year incumbent in a contested election. Tim heads an office of ten attorneys, four paralegal/support staff, and three victim/witness advocates. Tim’s mission upon assuming office has been to restore public confidence in the office of Commonwealth’s Attorney in Augusta County by building a team of highly-skilled, professional and dedicated attorneys and support staff to seek justice, hold offenders accountable for their crimes, and improve public safety for the citizens of Augusta County.  As part of this mission, upon assuming office, Tim collaborated with Augusta County’s newly-elected Sheriff, Donald Smith, to reexamine cold cases that the previous administration declined to prosecute.  Through the concerted efforts of the Sheriff’s Office and Tim’s prosecution team, Tim was able to bring two murderers to justice: Melvin Spencer, who shot his wife to death in 2003, and David Vatter, who poisoned his wife to death with antifreeze in 2014. In the years since, Tim and his assistant prosecutors have successfully prosecuted scores of serious cases, including the aggravated murder of Khaleesi Cuthriell, a three-year-old girl who was tortured to death by her caretakers. 

An avid cyclist and skier, Tim played tennis for the University of Mary Washington, earning a bachelor of arts in political science.  He earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2003, before heading to the University of Richmond School of Law for his juris doctor degree, from which he graduated with honors. 

In addition to serving as Augusta County’s elected Commonwealth’s Attorney, Tim has served as the Chairman of the Blue Ridge Criminal Justice Board and has served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Richmond, Mary Baldwin University, and most recently, James Madison University, teaching a course entitled “The Prosecution of Violent Crime.”  He lives in Augusta County, with his wife Melinda, and their four children.