Man who killed police officer in Big Stone Gap pleads guilty to additional charges | WJHL

FILE PHOTO: Michael Donovan White appeared in court on Nov. 23 after being arrested in the alleged killing of Big Stone Gap police officer Michael Chandler. (WJHL)

ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL) — The man who pleaded guilty to killing Big Stone Gap police Officer Michael Chandler has also admitted to being at the center of a meth conspiracy, according to federal prosecutors.

According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Michal Donivan White pleaded guilty on Wednesday to eight federal charges related to Chandler’s murder.

White, 36, of South Carolina, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Chandler’s death in May. At the time, prosecutor Brett Hall said he faced 40 to 100 years in prison at sentencing.

On Wednesday, the Justice Department reported that White also pleaded guilty to the following charges:

• Causing the death of a person by the use of a firearm, where the killing was premeditated murder, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
• Conspiracy to distribute or possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute
• Use of a place for distribution or consumption of a controlled substance
• Use of a communication device in the commission of an offence involving controlled substances
• Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
• Possession of a stolen firearm
• Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offence and use, brandishing or firing of that firearm in connection with a drug trafficking offence

According to the Justice Department and court documents, White and 18 other defendants were involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl. The press release said the conspiracy began in August 2021 and continued after White’s arrest.

In October 2022, federal prosecutors first announced that White had been identified as a key figure in the drug ring.

On November 13, 2021, at approximately 4 a.m., Chandler responded to a call to a known drug house on Orr Street, where he encountered a vehicle. The Department of Justice reports that Chandler requested backup when the vehicle drove off.

The press release states that White was in the vehicle of a co-defendant, Misty Ward, and ordered her to drive away so he would not have to go back to jail. Ward started to drive away, but then stopped and got out of the vehicle.

Ward complied with Chandler’s demands while White allegedly attempted to drive away. The vehicle became stuck in the grass and Chandler approached, striking the vehicle’s window with his flashlight.

White then pulled out a gun and fired eight shots through the driver’s door and window.

The Justice Department reports that Chandler was shot twice, once in the wrist and once in the stomach beneath his bulletproof vest. Chandler died of his injuries that same night.

White was found at a Kingsport motel, where police also found a handgun. Later investigations confirmed it was the same gun used to kill Chandler.