Prince William

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.”


Prince William

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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).