Eighth member of meth ring tied to Big Stone Gap officer’s death sent to prison

An eighth defendant in a meth distribution ring tied to the death of Big Stone Gap police officer Michael Chandler was sentenced to 6 years in prison.

Christopher Bates, 31, of Appalachia, was part of a 19-member group arrested and charged with trafficking meth from Tennessee into Virginia, according to a report issued by the US Attorney’s Office in Abingdon.

Chandler’s killer, Micheal White, pleaded guilty to the officer’s shooting death at a location known as the Red House that was frequented by dealers and drug buyers. White will be sentenced in November.

(IMAGE: From Bristol Broadcasting News Archive)