Prince William

Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth: “The commonwealth attorney’s office announces the successful prosecution of Gentil Mwenze Banze arising from the June 18, 2022, accident that killed a Lake Ridge man and his dog. On July 6, 2023, Gentil Mwenze Banze pled guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter while Driving Under the Influence. The case was heard by Judge James A. Willett of the Prince William County Circuit Court.”

“On November 16, 2023, Mr. Banze was sentenced by Judge Willett to 10 years in prison, the maximum term allowable under the law, and three years of active probation following his release from prison. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Sarah Sami.”


Prince William

The Office of the Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney: “On October 16, 2023, the Honorable Judge Kimberly A. Irving, Chief Judge of the Prince William County Circuit Court, found Desmond Daniel guilty of two counts of first-degree murder following his guilty plea to the charges. The Defendant will be sentenced on March 14, 2024. Members of the victims’ families will present victim impact testimony at that time. The Defendant faces a maximum sentence of two life terms in prison.”

“On November 16, 2022, Prince William County Police responded to Isle Royale Terrace, in [near Dumfries] after neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots. Police arrived at the scene to find two gunshot victims in the basement of the home. One victim, a 22-year-old Woodbridge woman, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other, a 24-year-old Woodbridge man, was taken to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead. A family dog was also located in the basement suffering from gunshot wounds and had to be euthanized.


Prince William

Press Release: “Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth announces the successful prosecution of Cody Dale Davis arising from the February 2, 2021, aggravated malicious wounding of a Dumfries woman.”

“On April 7, 2023, after a three-day trial jury trial and subsequent 10-minute jury deliberation, Mr. Davis was convicted of one count of aggravated malicious wounding. On September 21, 2023, Mr. Davis was sentenced by Judge Willett of the Prince William County Circuit Court to life in prison. The matter was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Dircia D. Schubert and Deputy Chief of Staff Kevin L. Leahy.”


Prince William

Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth: “Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth announces the sentencing of Adrian Kendall Bryant on the first-degree murder conviction arising from the July 12, 2021, murder of a 17-year-old juvenile in Woodbridge, Virginia and the successful prosecution of Paul England for the February 2023 stabbing that occurred in Woodbridge, Virginia.”

“On July 12, 2021, at approximately 11 am, Adrian Kendall Bryant met with the juvenile victim, along with two other individuals at a location on Still Place in Prince William County. Several homeowners’ cameras captured the brief interaction between the juvenile and Mr. Bryant, who produced a handgun and fired three shots at the juvenile victim, hitting him twice.”


Politics

Amy Ashworth was on the ropes for most of a political debate between her and challenger Matt Lowery, each vying to run the Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.

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Prince William

Republicans are making Prince William County’s skyrocketing crime and murder rates a key campaign issue.

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Prince William

Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney: “Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth announces the sentencing of Billy Riggs, 40, related to the sexual assault of four minors which occurred in Prince William County, VA, between July 2011 and December 2013. Mr. Riggs pled guilty to one count of rape and four counts of aggravated sexual battery on July 25, 2022. On July 14, 2023, Mr. Riggs was sentenced to serve 90 years in prison.”

“On April 2, 2019, Prince William County Police began an investigation into a sexual assault that was reported to have occurred in Triangle between July 2011 and December 2013. The investigation revealed that one victim, who was between 4 and 6 years old at the time, was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance on more than one occasion.”


Prince William

Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney: “Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth announces today the sentencing of Robert Coltrain, 27, related to the murder of Brian Trotter which occurred in Prince William County, VA on or about October 17, 2020. Mr. Coltrain pled guilty to first-degree murder on June 28, 2022. On July 7, 2023, Mr. Coltrain was sentenced to 75 years in prison with 30 of those years suspended.”

“On October 17, 2020, Brian Trotter was reported missing by his family. Trotter had last been seen by his father getting into a vehicle with his friend, Robert Coltrain, to go to Washington D.C. Mr. Trotter gave his son a hug and said goodbye as Trotter left his residence with Coltrain. On October 26, 2020, while police in Virginia were investigating the disappearance, Florida Highway Patrol officers found a body decomposing in the trunk of a vehicle that was involved in a motor vehicle accident in the Miami-Dade area. Authorities were able to identify the body as Brian Trotter and immediately began an investigation of the death, leading them to the driver of the vehicle, Robert Coltrain. Mr. Coltrain was arrested by the Miami-Dade Police Department and eventually extradited back to Prince William County to stand trial for the murder.”


Politics

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Prince William

Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham will be front and center during the Board of County Supervisors meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2023, to update elected leaders about crime in the county.

According to Newsham’s 2o22 executive summary, the violent crime rate jumped an eye-popping 70% from 2019 to 2022, which includes murder, manslaughter, rape, sodomy, and robbery (outlined on page 48 of the department’s 2021 report).