Eight of 14 August parole grants involved people convicted of sexual offenses

Eight of the 14 people the Virginia Parole Board granted parole in August were serving time for sexual offenses, according to the board's August 2026 decisions report. Three of them have at least one life sentence.

This publication does not name victims of sexual offenses. The accounts below come from the board's report, the minutes of its Aug. 27 meeting and, in one case, a published appellate opinion.

David Brown Jr., 63, Norfolk: life for rape, plus burglary and sodomy, from a July 1982 judgment. He has served an estimated 44 years and 11 months. The minutes say the victim has died. The vote was 5-0.

Reginald James Holland, 63, Arlington County: rape, forcible sodomy, robbery, two abductions and possession of a sawed-off shotgun, from an August 1990 judgment, with five entries recorded as life sentences. One victim spoke at the meeting and statements from two others were read. The vote was 3-2, with Chair Shannon Dion citing "the lack of demonstrated remorse" and Vice Chair Kecia Brothers Hayes calling for more programming, including the Sex Offender Awareness Program.

Selwyn Shawn Herring, 62, Norfolk: life for penetration with an inanimate object, plus burglary and robbery counts, from a July 2004 judgment. The minutes say the victims have died. The vote was 5-0.

Dennis Rodney Harold, 75, Richmond: abduction, rape and sodomy from 1986 judgments, after robbery and abduction convictions in Norfolk in the 1970s and a 1975 recidivist conviction in Richmond. The victim could not form a position on parole but "would be fearful" of encountering him, according to the minutes. The vote was 5-0.

Randy Edward Logsdon Jr., 51, Virginia Beach: 11 counts of aggravated sexual battery and four of forcible sodomy from a 1996 judgment, after three 1995 juvenile and domestic relations court convictions for sexual offenses. Three victims and their parents supported parole, and one victim opposed it, according to the minutes. The vote was 5-0.

Edward Charles White, 72, Pittsylvania County: rape, forcible sodomy and breaking and entering from a 1995 judgment. The victim asked for no contact from the board. The vote was 5-0.

Rodney Jerome Jones, 61, Newport News: rape and forcible sodomy counts from a 2003 judgment, and a later cocaine-sale conviction. The victim was too overwhelmed to state a position, according to the minutes. The vote was 5-0.

Oscar Robert Lemen, 67, Albemarle County: forcible sodomy and object sexual penetration. A 2009 Court of Appeals of Virginia opinion says the victim was a 13-year-old friend of his daughter. A statement was read on the victim's behalf. The vote was 3-2; Chair Dion noted that the prosecutor "strongly supports release."

In several of these cases the board's listed reasons include phrases that may draw questions. For both Jones and Logsdon, the reasons include "No history of violence." For White and Herring, the board listed "No victim opposition" after victims either declined contact or had died. The board did not explain those entries in its report.

Statewide, the rape rate has been falling. The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services reported 24.7 rapes per 100,000 residents in 2025, down 17% from 2024 and 34% since 2017.

Taken together, the eight had served an estimated 259 years, from about 18 years and 9 months for Lemen to about 49 years and 6 months for Harold. Six of the eight grants were unanimous.

The board's reasons in these cases often referenced treatment. Members cited completion of treatment with demonstrated skills in several cases, and in Harold's case two members cited his completion of the Sex Offender Awareness Program. In the two split cases, the members voting no said more sex-offender or treatment programming was needed.

People released on parole after sexual-offense convictions remain subject to Virginia's sex-offender registry requirements and to conditions set by the board.

Albemarle County is a county in Central Virginia. Its county seat is Charlottesville, an independent city.

Arlington County is a county in Northern Virginia. Its county seat is Arlington.

Pittsylvania County is a county in Southside Virginia. Its county seat is Chatham.

Richmond is an independent city in the Richmond region.