Judge accused of trading help on murder case for sex

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Grace Church says she was desperate to save her only son when she first met Judge Onzlee Ware at a Roanoke community event about four years ago.

033121-roa-christleyembezzlement-06 (copy) — Judge Onzlee Ware listens to testimony in Roanoke Circuit Court in 2021.
The
Roanoke Times,
File 2021

090723-roa-a1-judge-1 — This image of Roanoke Circuit Court Judge Onzlee Ware and Grace Church is included in a court filing dated Aug. 30 that alleges Ware promised to help Church with her son's murder case in exchange for sexual favors.
Roanoke Circuit Court document image

church 070720 p07 — Timothy Mwandi Church places his hands on a copy of The Good News Bible at his July 2020 sentencing in Roanoke Circuit Court with his then-lawyer, Patrick Kenney, standing beside him.
The Roanoke Times, File 2020

ClementsMurderPlea05 (copy) — Roanoke Circuit Judge Chris Clemens.
The Roanoke Times, File 2021

090723-roa-a1-judge-2 — This image is of a handwritten letter that Grace Church says Roanoke Circuit Judge Onzlee Ware sent her in October 2019. It is included in a court filing dated Aug. 30.
Roanoke Circuit Court document image

090723-roa-a1-judge-3 — This image of a text message Grace Church says was from Roanoke Circuit Court Judge Onzlee Ware is included in a court filing dated Aug. 30 that alleges Ware promised to help Church with her son's murder case in exchange for sexual favors.
Roanoke Circuit Court document image

Timothy Church — Timothy Mwandi Church (left), 28, with his then-defense attorney Dirk Padgett at Church's trial in September 2019.
The Roanoke Times, File 2019

Emma Coleman (540) 981-3198

emma.coleman@roanoke.com