Former Virginia House of Delegates member Matt Fariss, 56, pleaded guilty to two felony charges—possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm while under the influence of drugs.
The charges stemmed from an arrest on March 23, 2024, when Fariss was pulled over for erratic driving and found to be carrying methamphetamine and a hunting rifle.
Despite facing up to 3 years in prison, the court suspended his sentence, allowing him to serve 5 years of unsupervised probation instead. Fariss, who had no prior felony record, had spent 22 days in jail prior to the sentencing.
Fariss was also previously involved in a legal case where he was found not guilty of felony hit-and-run and malicious wounding in a domestic incident but was convicted of a misdemeanor traffic offense.
Fariss had served in the House of Delegates from 2012 until 2024, when he was defeated in a race for re-election.
His attorney, Chuck Felmlee, emphasized that Fariss and his family were committed to seeking treatment to prevent further legal issues and that Fariss would be released in time for the holidays.
The court acknowledged Fariss’ previous community contributions but emphasized the importance of adhering to his probation conditions moving forward.