William McGill, a resident of Fairfax Station, wrote the following letter to the editor of the Fairfax County Times:
I nominate Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano as Fairfax County’s”Grinch of the Year” for his coddling of criminals, the resulting adverse impact on law-abiding citizens, and his war on the police.
First, he has encouraged rampant retail theft by refusing to prosecute most shoplifters. To staunch the losses, retailers have blocked exit doors, requiring the infirm to make a longer trip to the one open exit, caged and locked items requiring us to wait until an employee with a key can be found, and raised the prices we pay because they must cover the theft loss.
Second, he releases suspected drug dealers on no or low bond so they can immediately return to selling fentanyl and other deadly drugs,
Third, he allowed a twice-convicted felon charged with assaulting a family member to be released on bond so the felon could then murder his mother and sister.
Fourth, he allowed a 21-year-old man charged with attempting to rob two minors at gunpoint to be released on his own recognizance so that he could return to menace other citizens. Finally, his war on the police is evidenced by his failure to charge and try many arrestees and by his appointment of a Special Grand Jury after a regular Grand Jury failed to indict Officer Wesley Shifflet.…
Yes, many Fairfax County voters recently reelected Descano. They were not paying attention to the increased crime because it had not adversely impacted them or their business. May they continue to be lucky. Meanwhile, other citizens will suffer the adverse consequences of increasing crime in what was, before Descano’s reign, a safe county because the previous Commonwealth’s Attorneys enforced the laws, placing the rights and safety of citizens above those of criminals.
This letter was first published at FairfaxTimes.com on December 29, 2023.