Prince William

“The Defendant will be sentenced on November 16, 2023. Members of the victim’s family will present victim impact testimony at that time. The Defendant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years in prison.”

“In the early evening hours of June 18, 2022, the Defendant, Gentil Mwenze Banze, was driving his motor vehicle westbound on Old Bridge Road. Witnesses described the Defendant’s vehicle as swerving in and out of his lane of travel, almost striking other vehicles, before veering to the right and leaving the roadway.”


Prince William

WRC-TV: “A Virginia man who pleaded guilty to killing a young Marine is free just two years after the shooting, and prosecutors in Prince William County blame investigators for failing to turn over key evidence in time.”

“But prosecutors said there were problems with some of the police evidence before the trial began. Midway through the trial, prosecutors say police suddenly mentioned a Ring camera video that had never been documented or turned over as required. The defense attorney filed a motion to dismiss.”


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.”


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Rosie’s has its eyes set on Manassas Park.

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Prince William

Prince William Times: “Opponents of the Prince William Digital Gateway were dealt another blow Thursday when a judge dismissed a second lawsuit challenging the data center development.”

“Both lawsuits were filed by residents late last year in an effort to stop the 2,139-acre data center corridor proposed just north of the Manassas National Battlefield Park from moving forward. Both suffered the same fate: dismissals from two different judges in separate hearings held just a few weeks apart.”


News

Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk Jacqueline Smith held her third annual Law Day Awards Ceremony on May 3, 2023.

Clerk Smith’s art contest had close to 1,000 votes received both online and in-person. There were three categories: high school, middle school, and elementary school.


News

A sign on the wall of the Prince William County Law Library, recently relocated from the basement to the third floor of the Prince William County Judicial Center, honors former Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul B. Ebert.

The sign states that the library, open to the public, continues the “legacy of service by ensuring access to justice for all.”


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