Our Team
Bill Slone
Pike County Commonwealth's Attorney
Bill is a graduate of Millard High School. Influenced by his five uncles, Willie, Cal, Gene, Tom, and Bud Runyon he enlisted in the U. S. Army shortly after graduation. These uncles were his mother, Maggie Runyon Nichols's, five brothers, who all served their country in the military. Bill served as a Military Policeman three years.
After being Honorably discharged, he was hired by the Pikeville Police Department. While working as a Patrolman, Bill attended college and obtained his bachelor's degree from Pikeville College, now the University of Pikeville. He served with the Pikeville Police Department for six years.
Realizing a childhood dream, Bill was one of fifty cadets, from a pool of 3,500 applicants, to enter the Kentucky State Police in May of 1982. He was initially assigned to Post 9 Pikeville, where he served Pike and Floyd Counties as a Trooper. Two years later, he was promoted to Detective and assigned to the Special Investigation Unit.
In 1990, Bill left the State Police and became a small business owner. He was an owner/operator of four Mr. Gatti's restaurants for the next 20 years.
Looking for a change in careers, Bill enrolled in the Salmon P. Chase College of Law in August of 2010 and graduated in December 2012, earning a Juris Doctorate degree. He opened his own law firm in April 2013, and represented clients in a variety of legal issues, but found that he enjoyed criminal law the most. For the next five years he focused mainly on criminal defense. Bill was selected to be a member of the federal CJA Panel for the Eastern District of Kentucky. He tried cases in both Federal and state courts.
In 2017, long time Commonwealth's Attorney, Rick Bartley, announced the he would not be seeking reelection. Bill immediately knew that he would seek that position. Having served in law enforcement for nearly twenty years, he looked forward to the possibility of once again serving Pike Countians as the lead felony prosecutor.
Winning the election in 2018, Bill became only the third person to serve as the Pike County Commonwealth's Attorney in 48 years. Bill says, "Following Rick Bartley is not an easy task. Rick was one of the most respected prosecutors in Kentucky. However, he made the transition as smooth as possible, by leaving a great staff to help me hit the ground running. Although Rick is now retired, he is one of our best resources. I and the other prosecutors call on him for advice often. He is always more than willing to share his immense knowledge and experience."
It has been said many times that the job of a prosecutor is not to seek convictions, but to see that justice is done. Bill and his staff fully support this contention.
"We strive to be fair, reasonable, and consistent in every case. We believe in our criminal justice system, and treat every participant with respect, including the judge, jury, defense attorney, law enforcement officers, clerks, probation and
parole officers, and defendants. We treat every defendant equally, regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic standing. We pay particular attention to the defendant's criminal history in seeking justice.
Our office makes every effort to support victims of crimes. We seek restitution when possible and keep the victim informed about the progress of their case."
- Bill Slone, Commonwealth's Attorney
Bill and his wife, Karen live in Pikeville. They have four children, Bill's daughter, Stacie, and son, Daniel, and Karen's two sons, Noah and Adam Thornbury.
Erin Chamberlin
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney
Erin Chamberlin is from Hyden, KY and has been with the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office since 2009. She is a graduate of Pikeville College (now The University of Pikeville) and Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Erin is married to Assistant Pike County Attorney Tommy Chamberlin and they enjoy spending time with their daughter and traveling.
echamberlin@prosecutors.ky.gov
Donald Smith
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney
Donald Smith is a graduate of Pike Central High School, the University of Kentucky as a Singletary Scholar, and the University of Kentucky College of Law. Prior to joining the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office in 2018, he practiced law in Pikeville from 2010-2018. Outside of the office, Donald is President of the Mountain Movers Toastmasters Club and a graduate of the inaugural class of the Leadership Kentucky BRIGHT Program.
Melissa Goodman
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney
Melissa Goodman is a graduate of Virgie High School, Morehead State University with a degree in Government, and the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. Prior to joining the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office in 2018, she was a public defender and served as an Asst. County Attorney in both the Pike County Attorney's Office and the Fayette County Attorney's Office.
Alfreda Pugh
Secretary