Category Archives: Murder
Officials Credit Special Enforcement Campaigns for Violent Crime Reduction
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares says the violent crime rate in the Commonwealth is down 11 percent since 2023, largely thanks to a pair of special law enforcement campaigns. In a special ceremony, Miyares joined Governor Glenn Youngkin to tout the programs’ accomplishments on the two-year anniversary. Speaking before a crowd of law enforcement,… Read More »
Jail Release in Accidental Weapons Possession Cases
“Accidental” weapons, drugs, and other contraband possession cases are very common. In criminal court, possession has three elements (close proximity, actual knowledge, and exclusive control). But at the arrest phase, possession only has one element (general proximity). If Mary is driving her husband’s car and she doesn’t know about the handgun in the glove… Read More »
Non-DUI Alcohol Infractions in Virginia
Halloween is the first of a series of major fall/winter holidays. It’s also the beginning of drinking season, a time when alcohol consumption vastly increases. Drinking season usually lasts from Halloween until New Year’s Day. Many people drink more than they should to celebrate the holidays. Other people drink excessively to dampen the depressing… Read More »
NY Authorities Arrest Wanted VA Man
In October 2024, Ithaca Police Department officers arrested a 32-year-old Virginia man in connection with a probation violation warrant. According to the Ithaca Police Department, after they received an anonymous tip, officers found the defendant at an apartment complex on the 100 block of East Green Street. Police say he was wanted by the… Read More »
What Are the Three Standard Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs)?
In the late 1970s, when DUI enforcement was sporadic at best, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration developed a three-test battery to assess a suspect’s ability to multitask mentally and physically, and therefore safely drive a vehicle. Police officers arrest suspects, often whether or not they pass a chemical test, if they observe a… Read More »
Killing of Fetus, Infant, or Pregnant Woman
A pregnant Richmond woman was found dead in her home recently after being stabbed to death. She suffered stabbing wounds to her neck, which was the cause of death, as reported by NBC 12 News. A 23-year-old man, who the victim used to be in a relationship with, was arrested and charged with robbery,… Read More »
Penalties for Crimes of Violence When Victims are Minors
All crimes are not treated equally in the state of Virginia or anywhere else. For instance, a defendant that commits the same crime as another may face a biased jury and be sentenced to years behind bars, whereas another defendant in this situation may be let off with probation and a fine. One example… Read More »
Youth Charged with Felony Murder in Car Chase Death
An 18-year-old man is charged with felony murder, grand theft auto, fleeing the police, and multiple counts of reckless driving in a case that ultimately led to the tragic death of an innocent man on his way to go shopping for Christmas presents. Felony Murder Felony murder is statutorily defined as “[t]he killing of… Read More »
Change of Venue Motion in Fatal Child Abuse Case Hangs in Balance
The defense has lost an early battle in the widely publicized case of a mother whose five-year-old son was found dead in her septic tank. Due to the media attention the case received, the defense has moved for a change of venue. The motion and its accompanying issues shine a spotlight on the realities… Read More »
Legal Lessons from Fatal Police Chase Crash: Part 2
Part one of this post introduced the case of Rakim Kilpatrick, a 25-year-old Richmond man who caused a fatal collision by running a red light during a police chase. That post discussed the offenses that most directly relate to what may generally be considered “traffic offenses.” We explained how a chain of mistakes ultimately… Read More »
