Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano continues to come under fire for his anti-punitive-justice policies, as a Virginia mother organized a petition to recall him.
Cheryl Minter is the mother of Stephanie Minter, a woman murdered by Abdul Jalloh on Feb. 23. Jalloh had over 30 previous criminal charges, including violent crimes, and served little jail time. According to Minter, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office should have been aware of these repeated violent charges.
In 2025, then Capt. James Curry of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) wrote to Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Jenna Sands regarding Jalloh, saying he has “a long history of stabbing community members,” and adding that he “is a danger to the community.” Other members of the FCPD sent emails with similar statements about Jalloh’s criminal history.
In July, Minter organized a Change.org petition to recall Descano from office, writing, “Stephanie’s case is not an isolated failure. Under Descano’s leadership, Fairfax County has repeatedly seen dangerous offenders released, despite serious charges and lengthy criminal histories, while public safety took a back seat.”…