By: Maria-Paula 

Richard Joseph Botoms, 49, an inmate at the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) is facing charges for soliciting the murder of two VADOC corrections team members as well as violations of a protective order filed for an employee’s safety.  

A Powhatan County grand jury on Wednesday, June 5, indicted Botoms on two counts of Soliciting Felony/ Murder and four counts of Violation of a Protective Order. Botoms in a rejoinder filed an unfounded Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) claim against a VADOC employee at State Farm Correctional Center in June 2023. The claim indicated continuous harassment by the VADOC employee.  

As a result of all the events, a court in Henrico County issued a protective order, prohibiting Botoms from contacting the VADOC employee. He nonetheless went ahead and violated the court order through third-party contact in November 2023. The contact claims prompted the VADOC Victim Services Unit to open an investigation that resulted in Botoms and two other inmates receiving institutional infractions.  

According to the institutional charges, Botoms also solicited another inmate to murder both the State Farm CC employee and the lead investigator from the Victim Services Unit for monetary gain. The duo’s mission was not accomplished and the two VADOC corrections team members remained physically unharmed.  

VADOC Director Chad Dotson in a statement said corrections employees face difficult situations every day with professionalism and pride therefore should not face retaliation from inmates at any point. He emphasized that harassing the correctional team members will not be tolerated and their department will fully seek prosecution of employee harassment of the law. 

“I thank Powhatan County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Cerullo and his office for investigating this matter and holding this inmate accountable for such dangerous actions. Additionally, the Virginia Department of Corrections has a zero-tolerance policy regarding violations of the Prison Rape Elimination Act,” said Director Dotson. “Making an unfounded claim for retaliation, or for any reason, wastes valuable investigation time for any claims that need to be examined.”  

With no trial date set yet, Dotson said no further information will be provided now regarding the case.