Crimes
- Alexandria-based school boards group's 2021 letter cited only Loudoun as its Virginia example, DOJ report shows
The NSBA's September 2021 letter to President Biden, reprinted in a DOJ report, cited a Loudoun County School Board meeting as its only Virginia example.
- Two men convicted of murder among September parole grants; one victim's family opposed release
Troy Demar, convicted of second-degree murder in Fairfax County, and Calvin Darnell Johnson, serving life for a 1989 Richmond murder, were granted parole Sept. 10.
- Man convicted of 1997 Franklin post office robbery granted parole under juvenile criteria
David Syrus Butchee, 45, was granted parole in September after serving decades on armed robbery of a Franklin post office convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Three of September's seven parole grants involved sexual-offense convictions
The Virginia Parole Board granted parole in September to three men convicted of sexual offenses, including one with a 2023 conviction for rape of a child under 13.
- Arlington man serving life for 1990 rape, robbery and abductions granted parole in 3-2 vote
Reginald James Holland, 63, was granted parole in August after serving decades on rape, forcible sodomy, robbery and abduction convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Mecklenburg County man convicted of 2016 drug distribution granted release at 65
William Kennedy Robinson, 65, was granted parole in August after serving decades on drug distribution convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Virginia Beach man convicted of 1996 sex offenses granted parole; three victims backed release, one opposed
Randy Edward Logsdon Jr., 51, was granted parole in August after serving decades on multiple counts of aggravated sexual battery and forcible sodomy convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Albemarle man convicted of sexually abusing 13-year-old granted parole in split vote
Oscar Robert Lemen, 67, was granted parole in August after serving decades on forcible sodomy and object sexual penetration of a 13-year-old convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Pittsylvania County man convicted of 1995 rape and sodomy granted parole at 72
Edward Charles White, 72, was granted parole in August after serving decades on rape and forcible sodomy convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Lynchburg man with repeat cocaine convictions granted parole to federal detainer
Derrick Lee Wright, 55, was granted parole in August after serving decades on repeat cocaine distribution convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Man who helped kill Fairfax County resident at 15 granted parole under new juvenile law
Stephen Michael Lineham, 42, was granted parole in August after serving decades on first-degree murder committed at 15 convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Virginians protect gay marriage, voting rights and abortion rights in state Constitution
Virginians For Reproductive Freedom campaign director Han Jones gives a victory speech and cheers on supporters after Virginia voter opted to enshrine reproductive rights into the state Constitution on Nov. 3, 2026.
- 75-year-old with robbery, abduction and 1986 rape convictions granted parole
Dennis Rodney Harold, 75, was granted parole in August after serving decades on abduction, rape and sodomy, with earlier robbery and abduction convictions convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Norfolk man serving life for 1982 rape granted parole after nearly 45 years
David Brown Jr., 63, was granted parole in August after serving decades on rape, sodomy and burglary convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Man convicted in two 1989 Peninsula killings, including his father's, granted parole
Reginald Shell, 60, was granted parole in August after serving decades on two first-degree murder convictions convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Norfolk man serving life for 2004 sexual assault and burglaries granted geriatric parole
Selwyn Shawn Herring, 62, was granted parole in August after serving decades on object sexual penetration, burglary and robbery convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Richmond man convicted of 1999 murder and armed robbery granted parole
Isaac Terrell Taylor, 49, was granted parole in August after serving decades on second-degree murder and armed robbery convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Norfolk man serving life for 1992 basketball-court killing granted parole
Victor Fields, 68, was granted parole in August after serving decades on first-degree murder convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Vindman faces crowded field and economic pressures in Virginia’s 7th District Congressional race
Pictured from left are candidates for the seventh congressional district race in Virginia: U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Woodbridge, Republican Douglas Ollivant and Libertarian Taner Lopez.
- 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.
- 41,085 Declined ICE Detainers Nationwide — Arlington Held Up as Democrat Sanctuary Case Study
House Judiciary: sanctuary jurisdictions declined at least 41,085 ICE detainers Oct. 2022–early 2026 and 17,864 in Trump’s first 12 months back; Arlington’s Democrat Trust Policy is the Virginia deep dive.
- 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%).
- New guidance limits voting disqualifications to murder, manslaughter convictions
Among Virginians who are no longer incarcerated, only those convicted of murder and voluntary or involuntary manslaughter remain disqualified from voting under new guidance from the Virginia Department of Elections.
- 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.”
- 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.
- Judge John Gibney Upholds Ruling That Virginia Cannot Automatically Strip Felons of Voting Rights
On Monday, a federal court reaffirmed a January ruling that found that Virginia’s current practice of disenfranchising all people with felony convictions violates post-Civil War laws that required former Confederate states to guarantee voting rights for newly emancipated Black re
- Old Dominion University Shooter, Convicted of Islamic State Links, Released From Prison Only 2 Years Before Attack
Documents from the court show that less than two years after Mohamed Bailor Jalloh had been released from prison on charges of attempting to help the Islamic State, he opened fire in a class before ROTC students were able to subdue and kill him.
- 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 […]
- 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 […]
- Hampton Roads tenants describe landlord’s abuse, retaliation after landmark fair housing settlement
A new settlement with Hampton Roads landlord David Merryman — who is currently serving a 17-year sentence for defrauding the federal government — means several of his former tenants will receive a piece of $2.5 million in financial compensation over the next year. Merryman must sell his Virginia properties, numbering over 60, and can never […]
- Testimony Presented on House Bill 696 Regarding Firearm Possession at Virginia Rest Areas
Testimony occurred before the Virginia House of Delegates concerning House Bill 696. The measure addresses whether citizens may carry firearms at rest areas. Representatives from the National Rifle Association and the Liberal Gun Club participated in the session. The presented arguments focused on self-defense needs for travelers. Speakers described potential risks in remote locations where […]
- Anti-Slapp law plays role in backing Va. teacher and parent targeted by false online accusations
A Northern Virginia court in June rejected social media efforts to damage the reputation of a teacher and parent, awarding them more than $1 million in combined damages. Robert Rigby Jr., a longtime educator and advocate for LGBTQ+ students, said after the leader of conservative political action committee Virginia Project posted unfounded accusations that he […]
- 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 […]
- New Law Sets Rules for Handguns in Unattended Motor Vehicles in Virginia
The Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate have passed legislation that sets new standards for storing handguns in unattended motor vehicles. House Bill 110 provides that no person shall leave, place, or store a handgun in an unattended motor vehicle when the handgun is visible to any person outside the vehicle. A violation of […]
- Virginia Enacts Law Updating Discovery Procedures for Criminal Cases
In Virginia, a legislative measure has been signed into law that modifies the procedures for providing discovery materials to individuals accused of crimes in district court cases. House Bill 118 was signed by Governor Abigail Spanberger on April 13, 2026, becoming Chapter 562 of the Acts of Assembly. The law goes into effect on July […]
- Virginia joins 21 states in opposing USPS gun mailing proposal
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones on Tuesday joined 21 other states in opposing a proposed United States Postal Service rule that would allow certain firearms to be sent through the mail, warning the change could undermine state gun laws and make it easier for prohibited individuals to obtain weapons. In a multi-state comment letter, the […]
