court | FFXnow - Part 13

Reston man sentenced to prison for sexually exploiting teens

Published February 27, 2025 at 1:15PM | Updated February 27, 2025 at 1:46PM

The Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Reston man has been sentenced by a federal judge to nearly two decades in prison for preying on teens he encountered online — more than three years after Fairfax County courts dismissed similar charges against him.

Xavier Dejuan Jackson, 28, was sentenced to 19 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff in Alexandria today (Thursday) after he pleaded guilty last year to sexually exploiting a child, transporting minors and attempting to coerce a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.

News

Woman pleads guilty to defrauding Herndon farm cooperative

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 21, 2025 at 9:45AM

Dairy cows (via Daniel Quiceno M on Unsplash)

A Centreville woman could face up to two decades in prison for embezzling thousands of dollars from the Herndon-based farmers’ cooperative where she worked.

Paula Sue Leventhal, 64, pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday (Feb. 19) to wire fraud after she redirected $550,000 from the cooperative to her personal bank accounts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.

News

Chantilly man accused in Reston gym shooting indicted by grand jury

By Jared Serre

Published February 20, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated February 20, 2025 at 9:49AM

Chantilly resident Steve Taehee Ha (via FCPD)

A grand jury has returned a true bill over the shooting death of a man at a Reston gym last summer.

Steve Taehee Ha, 43, was indicted Tuesday (Feb. 18), nearly six months after he was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

News

Another MS-13 member sentenced to prison for Reston murders

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 14, 2025 at 8:15AM

The Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Another member of the gang MS-13 will serve decades in prison for participating in multiple murders, including ones in Reston.

Henry Leonel Barrera Ayala, 26, was sentenced by a federal judge to 50 years in prison after he pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced yesterday (Thursday).

News

Man sentenced to almost two decades in prison for Fairfax County kidnapping

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 12, 2025 at 3:45PM

Tyree Eugene McCombs (center) and others carry shoes and handbag stolen from couple in Alexandria apartment building (courtesy U.S. Attorney's Office)

A D.C. man will serve almost two decades in prison for allegedly participating in the stalking, robbery and kidnapping of two Fairfax County residents as well as a woman in Maryland.

A U.S. District Court judge in D.C. sentenced Tyree Eugene McCombs, 29, to 228 months, or 19 years, in prison yesterday (Tuesday) after he pleaded guilty last year to robbery and kidnapping charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. announced.

Countywide

Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney forms new wrongful convictions review partnership

By Jared Serre

Published February 10, 2025 at 11:20AM

Fairfax County Courthouse (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Individuals who believe they have been wrongfully convicted in Fairfax County now have a new way forward.

The county’s Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project (MAIP), announced today (Monday) the creation of a Conviction Integrity Unit that will review challenged cases, establishing a process to potentially “secure more just outcomes.”

News

Fairfax Circuit Court offers free marriage ceremonies to celebrate Valentine’s Day

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 7, 2025 at 3:30PM

The Fairfax County Circuit Court's Reston satellite office issued its first marriage license after opening in May 2024 (courtesy Fairfax County Circuit Court Clerk's Office)

Local couples looking to tie the knot before Valentine’s Day will have a chance to save a few bucks in the process next week.

The Fairfax County Circuit Court is offering free civil marriage ceremonies next Tuesday, Feb. 11 at its Reston satellite office, which will be open in the Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

News

Man convicted of assaulting deaf passenger on flight to Dulles Airport

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 7, 2025 at 9:00AM

United Airlines planes at Dulles International Airport (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A man was convicted yesterday (Thursday) of assaulting a fellow passenger during a flight from San Francisco to Dulles International Airport.

In an incident that made national headlines, Everett Chad Nelson, a 44-year-old man from Stafford, was arrested by the FBI on Oct. 28, 2024 after he repeatedly punched a deaf passenger who was sleeping on United Airlines Flight 2247 “without provocation,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

News

MS-13 gang member gets life in prison for Reston murders

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 30, 2025 at 2:45PM

The Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A man who was convicted last year for his role in a series of murders in Reston will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Elmer De Jesus Alas Candray, 27, was sentenced by a federal judge today (Thursday) to six concurrent life prison sentences for multiple racketeering, murder and gun charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

News

Fort Belvoir woman pleads guilty to assaulting son

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 29, 2025 at 8:15AM

The Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (file photo)

A Fort Belvoir woman who allegedly beat her son for not cleaning his bedroom pleaded guilty to assault charges on Monday (Jan. 27), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced yesterday.

According to court documents, China Ashley Charles, a 38-year-old woman who lived in military housing on the Army installation, called police on Oct. 8, 2024 to report that her son had run away after she “disciplined him for not cleaning” his bedroom.