Candidate Arrested After School Incident

Marston Thinks Incident is Personal

Greg Marston has been making news around Southside Virginia this past year as he has been at the forefront of support for the idea of bringing industrial hemp growth and industry to the area. Marston has used this as a big part of his campaign discussions while running for the upcoming election for the 61st District seat in the House of Delegates, a position currently held by Victoria resident Tommy Wright.

Marston was in the news recently, not for political reasons, but because of a warrant of arrest served to him for disorderly conduct and disruption of a school activity.

In a letter from Nottoway County Public Schools, Superintendent Dr. Dan Grounard states, “Today you displayed inappropriate actions to our building level principal.”

The statement continues, “Your inappropriate actions created a threatening atmosphere.”

This issue stemmed from an incident on September 28, 2015 when Marston and his campaign assistant, Crystal Hallinen, attempted to take her child to Nottoway Intermediate School.

Marston says that they were informed by the principal that the child could not attend the school there. At that point Marston stated, “I asked the principal to give the superintendent a message from me that this was not over. The principal rudely replied she didn’t have to give him anything and for me to ‘get off school property.’”

According to Marston, he never left the vehicle but did tell the school official to move away from his truck before he would leave and he stated, “The principal became belligerent.”

This confrontation stemmed from the question of where Hallinen and her children have residence. Nottoway County Public Schools has a policy that requires a fee to be paid if out-of-county children are to attend their schools, which is similar to policies of other surrounding public schools in neighboring counties.  Marston says that Hallinen had moved to Prince Edward County briefly, but she now lives with him and his wife in Nottoway.

Hallinen noted through social media that she had moved in with Marston in July because of financial reasons, but a summons was also issued to her for making false statements regarding the residency of a child in a school district.

Marston stated, “This is a personal thing that goes way back.”

He continued on to say that there was also a recent event where he “called out Dr. Grounard in front of people.”

Dr. Grounard responded to the issue regarding the residency questions and stated, “The matter involves parents and children, so as a matter of state and privacy laws, I can’t comment.”

He did go on to say that the school system is cooperating with Department of Education personnel as they do in any instance involving a child and are mindful of keeping strict compliance with any laws involved.

As for the disorderly conduct situation involving Marston, Grounard said that the school system is committed to providing the students and staff at Nottoway with a safe and secure environment.

Grounard would go on to note that legal action can be taken if “anyone from inside or outside of the school community creates a threat.”

Marston has retained attorney Joe Morrissey and an arraignment date has been set for October 14.