Matt Fariss was a Republican delegate to the Virginia Assembly. He was defeated in the November 7, 2023 election. After losing the primary, he ran as an Independent and got 6% of the vote.
He was charged with several felonies after swerving into another land and striking a woman with his car and driving away. They had been dating. The tire blew out on his car while they were on their way to dinner. A fight broke out and she got out of the car. He was yelling at her to get in the car, turned and cross the center line in order to hit her. He knocked her down with the car, stopped the car, and got out and walked toward her. She said she scrambled to get away, afraid he might do more to harm her.
There also was a witness who testified before the grand jury. His trial is scheduled for 2024.
UPDATE April 2024: Fariss was arrested again, with felony drug and gun charges and a misdemeanor violation of a protective order.
- WSET: ‘I thought he was going to shoot me:’ Del. Fariss appears in court for hit-and-run charges
- WSET: Hit-and-run case involving Del. Fariss headed to trial in Campbell County
- AP News: Former GOP Virginia lawmaker, Matt Fariss arrested again; faces felony gun and drug charges
