A former senior policy adviser to Gov. Bob McDonnell has been charged with four counts of misdemeanor assault and three counts of violating a protective order stemming from his relationship with a former girlfriend.
Eric J. Finkbeiner, a lawyer, was first charged April 2 for allegedly violating a protective order on March 30, according to online court records.
He was subsequently charged Wednesday with four counts of misdemeanor assault and two counts of violating a protective order. The dates of offense listed are May 12, 2012; Oct. 4, 2012; Nov. 4, 2012; and March 31 for the assault charges, and March 24 and March 31 for the protective order offenses, records show.
"It's just an unfortunate situation," Finkbeiner said when reached. "There's charges on both sides. We'll handle it in court."
Finkbeiner was the governor's chief lobbyist, handling such high-profile tasks as McDonnell's unsuccessful effort to sell off the state's liquor monopoly. He left the administration in mid-2011 and rejoined the McGuireWoods law firm.
At McGuireWoods, he acted as local consultant to the Washington Redskins in negotiating a deal with McDonnell and Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones in mid-2012 to establish the team's summer camp in Richmond and use state money to help renovate its corporate and training facility in Loudoun County.
He left McGuireWoods at the end of 2012 to open his own law practice and consulting business.
Finkbeiner said the charges are related to a former girlfriend.
Chesterfield County police said the warrants were not obtained by county officers and that the department had no information to provide about the alleged offenses. Finkbeiner's accuser likely obtained the warrants directly from a county magistrate.
The complainant listed in six of the seven cases is a Summer D. Hudson, records show.
Todd B. Stone, Finkbeiner's attorney, said in an interview that his client had filed charges against Hudson through a magistrate, but declined to discuss them until they are served on her.
Stone said Finkbeiner had been charged only with violating a protective order. When Finkbeiner sought to have the order dissolved, Stone said Hudson filed new charges dating back a year.
"If they were important enough at the time, why were they not filed at that time?" the attorney asked.
In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, Stone said: "It is very easy to get a warrant against someone in Virginia, and that's the reason people are presumed innocent at this stage. Fortunately, Mr. Finkbeiner had the awareness and foresight to preserve a substantial amount of evidence during this tumultuous relationship, and it will prove his innocence in a courtroom."
Finkbeiner was not taken into custody. Electronic copies of the warrants say he was released on his own recognizance.
Finkbeiner is scheduled to appear June 20 on all seven charges in Chesterfield General District Court.
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