News Release | Virginians for Safe Communities
The parents of a child sex crime victim issued a public plea for voters to reject Steve Descano in the June 20th Democratic Primary, citing his incompetence, indifference, and overall unjust actions toward crime victims. The letter was circulated online to tens of thousands of Fairfax County voters this morning. Read the full letter below or at the link here.
The parents (Scott & Christine) of the child victim endorsed Ed Nuttall for Commonwealth’s Attorney and cited his work with victims, as a prosecutor, and a report compiled by themselves and other victims about their experience with Descano’s office. Read that report here.
LETTER FROM VICTIM’S PARENTS TO COUNTY VOTERS:
June 15, 2023
Dear Fairfax County Resident:
We have lived in Fairfax County for 25 years. This is hard to share, but our family was a victim of a child sexual predator four years ago. The perpetrator was arrested on five felony counts, but allowed out on probation the day after his arrest and he promptly continued his crimes. We notified the Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney, Steve Descano, of the violations but he took no action to protect our family. Mr. Descano let a child sexual predator remain free for three and a half years to traumatize our family, while he knew of the ongoing crimes. We went through three prosecutors, eleven continuances, botched hearings, and his office gratuitously negotiated the five felony counts down to one over our objections.
We have since met at least ten other victims of various crimes (homicide, rape, child sexual assault, home invasion, shooting at a place of business) who also did not get varying degrees of justice due a combination of Mr. Descano’s mismanagement and a strange lack of focus on victims. We and other victims have gone public with aspects of our stories because we don’t want anyone else to have to go through what we went through. Read other victims’ stories and recommendations in more detail HERE.
Your family and our community are less safe with Mr. Descano in office. The person challenging Mr. Descano for the Commonwealth Attorney is Ed Nuttall who has the character, competence, and courage to bring true justice reform to Fairfax County. Law enforcement and public safety should not be partisan issues – and it certainly is not when you are a victim. Please research the candidates and vote accordingly.
The primary is “open” so everyone can vote in the June 20th election regardless of party affiliation. There are no Republican or independent candidates on the ballot in November, so Tuesday June 20 this the only chance we have to make an important change. We encourage you to make your voice heard. Early voting has already started at 12 government centers and libraries across Fairfax County. You can vote there weekdays from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and this Saturday, June 17th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or at your normal polling location on Tuesday, June 20th .
Thank you,
Scott and Christine
Victims of crime and concerned parents of Fairfax County
