Newport News rape, sodomy convict granted geriatric parole after nearly 24 years

The Virginia Parole Board has granted parole to Rodney Jerome Jones, who was convicted of rape and forcible sodomy in Newport News, according to the board's August 2026 decisions report.

The board's August decisions report lists Jones, 61, as granted geriatric parole, which Virginia law makes available to certain older prisoners. The decision was recorded Aug. 28 and certified Aug. 31. His record shows a single Newport News Circuit Court judgment dated Oct. 10, 2003, covering three counts of forcible sodomy, two counts of rape and one count of aggravated sexual battery. Each of the five rape and sodomy counts carried 40 years with 14 suspended, and the sexual battery count carried 10 years with five suspended. The report estimates he has served 23 years, 8 months and 25 days.

This newsroom did not find contemporaneous news coverage or a published court opinion describing the facts of the 2003 case that could be confidently matched to Jones, so this account is limited to the offenses, court, sentences and time served shown in the board's record. The victim is not identified in the record, and this publication does not name victims of sexual offenses.

Prior and repeat offenses: The board's record also lists a separate Isle of Wight County Circuit Court conviction for selling cocaine, with a judgment date of Dec. 29, 2004, and a six-year sentence. No other prior convictions or supervision failures appear in the August report. Among the reasons the board listed for granting release is "No history of violence," a description that sits alongside rape and forcible sodomy convictions in the same record.

The board's stated reasons: The board's listed reasons for the grant were stable family relationships supporting reintegration, sustained emotional and behavioral stability, participation in faith or community programs, the board's conclusion that he has served enough time, no history of violence, release being compatible with public safety, participation in correctional and vocational programs, a stable release plan, a low risk-assessment score, vocational achievements and being infraction-free for at least the last 24 months.

Minutes of the board's Aug. 27 meeting show the vote was 5-0. Victim Services staff told the board the victim "was too overwhelmed to provide a statement or position on parole." Jones addressed the board. Chair Shannon Dion cited no history of violence, a low risk score, a stable release plan and a structured reentry plan, among other reasons, and Board Member Tyrone Nelson cited his infraction-free record and program participation.

How the decision was made: At the Aug. 27 meeting, held in person and electronically at the board's offices on Atmore Drive in Richmond, each candidate addressed the board by video after a summary of victim input, and Chair Shannon Dion then called on each member to vote and state reasons, according to the approved minutes. The board approved those minutes on Sept. 10. The August report notes that the offenses it lists include all offenses for which a person has been serving time, whether or not they are parole-eligible.

Crime trends in Newport News: According to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services report "Virginia Index Crime and Drug Arrest Trends 2016-2025," published in August 2026 using Virginia State Police crime repository data, Newport News recorded 801.8 violent index crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, compared with 472.7 in 2016, up 70% over the decade. Its property crime rate was 2,331.6 per 100,000 in 2025, compared with 3,065.1 in 2016, down 24%. Statewide, DCJS reported 210.5 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, down 7% from 2024 and 14% from 2023; the median rate among Virginia's counties and independent cities was 172.9. DCJS notes that the repository receives rolling updates, so the rates may be revised.

Across August, the board decided 44 parole cases and granted 14, according to its monthly decisions report, a grant rate of about 32% for the month. It denied the other 30. Separately, it held 10 parole-violation hearings, revoking parole in three, continuing parole in six and discharging one person from supervision. For historical context, the Virginia State Crime Commission reported discretionary-parole grant rates of 11% in 2018, 8% in 2019, 12% in 2020 and 8% through September 2021, and Bolts magazine reported a rate of about 1.6% in 2023. All five current board members were appointed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger on March 4, 2026, and confirmed by the General Assembly in March.

Parole in Virginia is supervised release: the board sets conditions, and it can revoke parole and return a person to prison for violations, as it did in three revocation cases this August. The board's report does not give a release date or say where Jones will live.

Richmond is an independent city in the Richmond region.

Isle of Wight County is a county in Hampton Roads. Its county seat is Isle of Wight.