Crime
- Newport News rape, sodomy convict granted geriatric parole after nearly 24 years
Rodney Jerome Jones, 61, was granted parole in August after serving decades on rape and forcible sodomy convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Richmond police chief: Shooting outside Virginia GOP offices was a business dispute, not election-related
Richmond's police chief says an Oct. 29 shooting that wounded a bystander outside the Republican Party of Virginia's headquarters was the result of a business dispute and was not connected to the election.
- What victims and prosecutors told the Parole Board before August's grants
Minutes of the Virginia Parole Board's Aug. 27 meeting record victim statements, prosecutor positions and each member's reasons in the 14 cases it granted.
- Man convicted of four counts of forcible sodomy in Hopewell granted parole after 30 years
Waverly Otis Robinson, 63, was granted parole in September after serving decades on four counts of forcible sodomy convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Fairfax County man convicted in 1998 stabbing death granted parole over family's opposition
Troy Demar, 53, was granted parole in September after serving decades on second-degree murder convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- What victims, prosecutors and the record told the Parole Board before September's grants
The minutes of the Sept. 10 meeting show victim input ranged from strong opposition to no response, and that prosecutors supported release in two cases.
- Virginia Beach man with long burglary record granted geriatric release after nearly 35 years
Michael McCoy Duncan, 62, was granted parole in September after serving decades on dozens of burglary and larceny counts convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Norfolk man, 71, with 1992 rape convictions and 2023 child-rape conviction granted parole
Clarence Eugene Billups, 71, was granted parole in September after serving decades on rape, including the 2023 rape of a child under 13 convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Virginia Lawmakers Weigh HB290 on Parental School Residency Rules
Humanization Project backs measure to drop misdemeanor charges for parents falsifying addresses while keeping civil penalties intact.
- Staunton man convicted of 1990 rape and robbery granted parole after 32 years
John Michael Moran Jr., 56, was granted parole in September after serving decades on rape and robbery convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Richmond man serving life for 1989 first-degree murder granted parole; prosecutor supported release
Calvin Darnell Johnson, 61, was granted parole in September after serving decades on first-degree murder convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Henrico Prosecutor Shannon Taylor's Decisions Examined in Congressional Race
Shannon Taylor, the Democratic nominee for Virginia's first congressional district, previously served as Henrico County's Commonwealth's Attorney.
- Juvenile criteria, age and health: how September's parole cases were decided
The board weighed a new juvenile-offender procedure and geriatric eligibility in September, granting one juvenile case and denying another, and granting seven of 85 cases overall.
- Luria and Kiggans rematch in Va.’s 2nd Congressional District among most-watched races in nation
From left to right: U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach, Democrat Elaine Luria, and independents Bishop Staten and Matt Baker.
- When Virginia’s congressional candidates don’t debate, voters get sound bites instead of substance
Basic civic literacy, which debates and candidate forums promote, is not even an afterthought for many political candidates in Virginia and other states, columnist Jim Spencer writes.
- Spanberger taps Daniel Young to lead government watchdog office
Daniel Young, a former federal prosecutor, has been appointed Virginia’s next state inspector general by Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
- Federal Judge Effectively Blocks New State Law Limiting Virginia's Cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement
A federal judge has temporarily blocked Virginia from enforcing most provisions of a new law restricting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, allowing existing partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement to continue while the legal challenge plays out.
- Inside Virginia’s city halls, concerns, confusion rise with Flock surveillance protests
A Williamsburg resident in March asked the police department at the College of William & Mary how data collected by the school’s Flock Safety surveillance system is shared.
- Democrat CA Called Laken Riley Act a “Heinous Bill,” Said Murder Had Nothing to Do With Immigration
House Judiciary report: Parisa Dehghani-Tafti stood by calling the bipartisan Laken Riley Act “heinous” and said Laken’s murder was unrelated to immigration — while the killer was an illegal alien released in sanctuary jurisdictions.
- Democrat Trust Policy Bars Arlington Police From Calling ICE — Even for Violent Felons, Gangs, and Terrorists
House Judiciary report: Democrat-run Arlington County Board Trust Policy blocks ACPD from contacting ICE for violent felons, gang members, traffickers, or terrorists; ACSO honored only 2 of 310 ICE detainers (0.65%).
- Virginia Lawmakers Weigh Bill to End Common Law Suicide Crime
A measure discussed by Delegate Simon would abolish the common law crime of suicide to ease benefit denials and stigma for surviving families.
- Virginia has a new law that regulates the use of license plate readers
The General Assembly has decided to take action to curb the use of automatic license plate readers by law enforcement.
- States take action against ‘claim sharks,’ who charge veterans for disability assistance
Consultants who charge military veterans to help them file their disability claims at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs make millions of dollars each year.
- Names of Criminal Aliens Arlington Released Instead of Transferring to ICE
Judiciary staff detail Ricardo Castro Ramirez, Soukouly Mohammad Hashi, Johslin Ariel Lopez-Rodas, a gang member with a 57-page history, a felony hit-and-run case, and an abduction/family-assault defendant released under Democrat sanctuary rules.
- Arlington’s Democrat Prosecutor Admits Office Weighs Immigration Status — Even in Some Child-Victim Cases
Deposition cited in House Judiciary report: Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti’s office considers immigration status, uses “lateral” DWI charges for DACA recipients, and says child-victim cases “depend on what the charge is.”
- Virginia Lawmaker Criticizes Operation Ceasefire Funding as Ineffective
Delegate Price describes prior Operation Ceasefire efforts as a slush fund for advertising that failed to reduce crime while calling for results-oriented violence prevention.
- Underprosecuted Then Rearrested: Report Ties Arlington Democrat Leniency to Attempted-Rape Case
Judiciary staff: after years of light handling by Democrat CA Parisa Dehghani-Tafti’s office, Guatemalan national Luzvin Orvando Garcia Moran was charged in an April 2026 Arlington attempted rape — despite prior warnings he was a danger.
- Martinsville Will Drop Flock Cameras When Contract Ends December 31
Police say the license-plate readers work but public trust has collapsed, joining a wave of Virginia localities stepping away.
- David Reid Measure to Add a Judge in Loudoun and Fauquier's Twentieth Circuit Advances
RICHMOND, VA – With the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session in its final weeks, a key provision to increase the number of judges in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit has gained significant traction through House Bill 443. Originally introduced as House Bill 46 by Delegate David R
- Loudoun County School Board Votes 5-3-1 Against Elementary School Resource Officers Expansion
Public commenters urged the board to support Sheriff Mike Chapman’s proposal, citing national statistics on mass shootings. Research from the Crime Prevention Research Center reports that 94 to 98 percent of mass public shootings occur in gun-free zones, where armed resistance is
- Judge affirms ruling in favor of former felons in voting rights lawsuit
Despite winning a lawsuit earlier this year that found that certain Virginians with felony convictions should not have lost their voting rights, some Virginians missed their chance to vote in congressional primary elections earlier this month. But a new ruling from U.S. District Court Judge John Gibney means that they will be able to vote […]
- Virginia resident seeks answers from state education superintendent over genocide definition
A Virginia resident is asking a Prince William County district court to order the state’s superintendent of public instruction to demonstrate how the Virginia Department of Education defines the term “genocide” in the state’s K-12 history curriculum. Prince William resident Gene Sokolowski filed a FOIA lawsuit in his county district court, alleging that Superintendent of […]
- Loudoun County Board Advances Legislative Position on Immigration Enforcement Cooperation
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved a policy statement for its 2026 legislative program following a 6-3 vote on March 3. The statement supports state legislation encouraging transparency in civil immigration enforcement activities and limiting local law enforcement cooperation in immigration matters. This action was proposed by Algonkian District Supervisor Juli Briskman. Board member
- Commonwealth Attorney Seeks Reform After Bat Return Blocked
A Commonwealth Attorney spoke before a legislative body about difficulties in returning a stolen baseball bat to its child owner. Court proceedings led to the item being classified as forfeited under existing statutes. The attorney outlined the sequence of events that resulted in the bat remaining unavailable to the victim. The situation arose when the […]
- More states ban child marriage, including Virginia, though it’s still legal in most of the United States
After authorities rescued 16 children last month who had been confined to a single room in a home in rural Ohio, attention turned to their mother, who had been 15 and pregnant when she married their father. The child endangerment case has recharged a national conversation around child marriage, which is defined by the United […]
- Virginia Committee Reviews House Bill 623 on Property Return Procedures
A committee of the Virginia House of Delegates held a discussion on HB 623 which seeks to modify existing procedures for returning property to victims of crime. The bill proposes adjustments that would allow local law enforcement to handle certain returns without additional court involvement in specified circumstances. This approach aims to address current requirements […]
- Jen Kiggans Engages with Federal Bureau of Investigation on Public Safety and Election Measures
Congresswoman Jen Kiggans joined FBI Director Kash Patel and Hampton Roads law enforcement for a discussion on public safety issues. The meeting focused on collaboration between federal agencies and local partners to address crime and security challenges in the region. Kiggans has represented Virginia’s Second Congressional District since 2023, covering areas including Virginia Beach and […]
- Virginia Mental Health Patient Flees on Pass as Steve Descano Faces Blame
Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2019 killing of his landlord and subsequently committed to the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute in Falls Church. In July, he was granted a 48-hour pass from the facility and used it to travel to Dulles Airport for a one-way international flight to […]
- Loudoun County Dedicates Significant Budget Increases to Public Safety and Emergency Operations
Loudoun County has outlined a comprehensive fiscal strategy within its latest financial plan, prioritizing essential public safety operations to ensure core resident protection needs are met. The newly detailed budget allocates a massive portion of its total $5.4 billion framework toward expanding emergency response and law enforcement capabilities. Notably, public safety and judicial administrati
- Virginia legislator Louise Lucas was allowed to use campaign funds for her defense. So she did.
State Sen. Louise Lucas, the powerful Portsmouth Democrat, used $300,000 in campaign funds to contribute to her legal defense fund and hire a law firm following an FBI raid in May on her businesses in Portsmouth. That’s a sizable amount. What The Virginian-Pilot article should have noted higher in the story was that Lucas was […]
- Jim Jordan Examines Sanctuary Policies Linked to Steve Descano
Jim Jordan presented details regarding sanctuary policies associated with Steve Descano in a recent public statement. These policies include decisions by local officials to limit assistance to federal immigration authorities. Jordan noted connections between these choices and instances where violent offenders are not fully prosecuted. The framework described involves declining to honor requests fr
- Fairfax County Faces Scrutiny Over ICE Detainer Declines and Local Crime Incidents
According to data compiled by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), Fairfax County declined 744 ICE detainers for criminal noncitizens held in local custody. CIS Director Jessica Vaughan noted that these included gang members, child predators, and sex offenders. The organization ranks Fairfax among the top sanctuary jurisdictions nationwide for such releases. Separate reports cite […]
- Virginia Bill Seeks to Raise Penalties for Voluntary Manslaughter Convictions
The Virginia House of Delegates reviewed a piece of legislation during the 2026 regular session designed to alter the penalty for voluntary manslaughter. Known as House Bill 102, or HB102, the measure was introduced to amend and reenact section 18.2-35 of the Code of Virginia, specifically addressing the punishment for this particular criminal offense. As […]
- Virginia Budget Conceals Millions in Spending Under Generic Program Names
Virginia taxpayers are facing massive state expenditures hidden behind vaguely named programs that make financial oversight nearly impossible. The recent state budget allocates a staggering $72.5 million over the biennium for community violence intervention programs. Instead of providing clear line-item details, lawmakers are funneling millions into generic categories that obscure the true nature
- Virginia Delegate’s Bill to Increase Penalty for Voluntary Manslaughter Fails in House Committee
The 2026 Virginia legislative session featured the introduction of House Bill 102 by Delegate Jason Ballard. This legislation proposed significant changes to the penalty for voluntary manslaughter in the Commonwealth. According to the summary as introduced, the bill aims to increase the penalty for voluntary manslaughter. Currently, this offense is classified as a Class 5 […]
- Virginia House Advances Firearm Transfer Rules in 2026 Legislation Amid Opposition
In the 2026 session of the Virginia General Assembly, House Bill 93 emerged as a key piece of legislation concerning the handling of firearms by individuals subject to protective orders or convicted of certain domestic offenses. The measure modifies sections 18.2-308.1:4 and 18.2-308.1:8 of the Code of Virginia to establish stricter protocols for firearm possession […]
- Virginia House of Delegates Approves Bill Establishing Standards for Limiting Room Confinement of Minors in Juvenile Facilities
The Virginia House of Delegates approved legislation during the 2026 regular session that directs the Department of Juvenile Justice to establish standards for limiting room or cell confinement of minors in juvenile correctional facilities. The bill, designated as House Bill 91, also mandates that the department compile a report on the results of implementing these […]
- Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Virginia Over Semi-Automatic Rifle Restrictions
The United States Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit on July 1, 2026, against the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Virginia State Police. The complaint challenges a newly enacted state law that bans the commercial purchase and sale of ordinary semi-automatic rifles. This includes AR-15-style firearms, which the department notes are owned by millions […]
- Fairfax County Supervisor Proposes Changes to Trust Policy on Public Safety Matters
During a meeting of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Pat Harrity presented a motion calling for reforms to the county’s Trust Policy. The changes were intended to strengthen protections for residents and individuals impacted by crime. Harrity noted that similar issues had arisen previously and asked what steps the board would take if […]
- Loudoun County Boosts Sheriff Funding for Overtime and Equipment Amid Growth
Loudoun County has approved increased funding for the Sheriff’s Office overtime and equipment upgrades as part of its FY2026 budget. The allocations respond to ongoing population growth and rising demands for law enforcement services in expanding suburban areas. County officials have tied these increases to measurable trends in call volume and staffing requirements. Population Growth […]