Lawmakers are expected to consider legislation that would speed up the exoneration process in Virginia for those who have been wrongly convicted and seek it. Johnathan Montgomery, 26, was cleared of rape after serving four years of a 7 ½ year sentence at the end of November when the accuser admitted she lied in the…
The Virginia State Crime Commission endorsed tougher penalties this week for texting while driving after new legislation was submitted for the upcoming legislation session. The proposed legislation is slated to be considered in the 2013 legislative session. The commission put forth the suggestion for tougher penalties after a judge did not convict a driver, who…
When Virginia lawmakers meet for the 2013 legislative session, they will consider measures to increase penalties for illegal cigarette trafficking. During the 2012 legislative session, the General Assembly asked the Virginia State Crime Commission to study the practice and make recommendations before the start of the 2013 session. The panel voted to keep the offense…
Gov. Bob McDonnell granted a conditional pardon Tuesday to a man who was wrongly convicted of a 2000 sexual assault. In 2008, Johnathan Montgomery was convicted of molesting a 10-year-old girl outside her grandma’s house when he was 14 years old. Nearly two weeks ago, the now woman recanted her story a few weeks ago.…
Virginia state crime commission is crafting a proposal to strengthen the state’s police officer decertification law. According to reports, the commission is working with the Department of Criminal Justice Services to strengthen the existing statute. Currently, an officer can be decertified if he or she is convicted of a felony, fails to meet training requirements, fails a drug test or refuses…
A Charles City area man exonerated in May of a 1978 wrongful rape conviction was excited to cast his first ballot in the presidential election Tuesday, but it took a bit of effort by some state officials along with many other supporters before that happened. Fifty-seven-year-old Bennett Barbour thought he was eligible to vote when…
The death of a baby in the care of a daycare center two years ago was not a criminal act a judge ruled Thursday and dismissed criminal charges against a Norfolk daycare center director. Two years ago, seven-week-old Dylan Cummings was found unresponsive in a nap room after being placed on his stomach to sleep…
Fifty two people were convicted on guns and weapons charges after a crime sweep throughout a year. According to the Department of Justice, fifty-one of those indicted pleaded guilty in federal court and the remaining person pleaded guilty in state court. All of those had been charged in May in a federal indictment after officials…
The leader of a methylone trafficking ring pleaded guilty this week to purchasing and distributing multi-kilogram amounts of the illegal substance from China and distributing it throughout Virginia. Nineteen-year-old Matthew Scott Baker of Fairfax, Va. was the last of eight people charge in the case to plead guilty, according to a press release from the…
More than a dozen drug defendants have been released and three state officials have resigned in the wake of charges a 34- year-old Massachusetts chemist lied about drug sample results. Annie Dookhan was arrested Friday for allegedly faking drug results, forging paperwork and mixing samples at a state police lab. Officials estimate Dookhan handled more…