Stafford, Va. — A Commonwealth Attorneys candidates’ debate unveiled who wants to change the system and which candidate is proud of the office’s accomplishments.
Republican candidates Eric Olsen, current Assistant Commonwealth Attorney in Stafford County, and defense attorney Jason Pelt squared off Monday night at the Stafford County Government Center. Both are vying to lead the county’s prosecutor’s office and at issue were the county’s heavy reliance on jury trials, it’s described low, utopian-like crime rate, and the importance of keeping or changing course in an office held for 40 years by now retiring Daniel Chichester.
“I have found that juries are the best arbiter of justice, better than any other system that I’ve been exposed to. We’re fortunate in Stafford to have
excellent juries, and I’ve been involved in several cases: if the evidence isn’t there the jury is not going to find you guilty. But if the evidence is there and we’ve if proven our case, if we’ve shown the defendant to be guilty then the jury will find them guilty and issue a fair and just punishment,” said Olsen
Olsen has worked in Stafford’s prosecutor’s office for 22 years and, in 2008, unsuccessfully ran for Commonwealth Attorney in Fredericksburg. Pelt, a Marine Corps officer and JAG Corps lawyer, says the county wastes money by holding jury trials for felony crimes.
“A shoplifter who steals $250 worth of merchandise does not need a jury, here’s why, that’s not to say he doesn’t have a right to a jury, hear me, every defendant has a constitution right to a jury. But Virginia is unique in the fact that also the government has a chance to have a jury. When the commonwealth says they want a jury, chi-ching, $2,000 is costs to get a jury in there,” said Pelt.
Gang issues
On the heels of Stafford County being awarded grant funding to combat gang activity, Pelt says Stafford Sheriff Charles E.
Jett is on the right course to curbing gang activity but he needs to work with neighboring counties to get the job done.
“Stafford is not a bubble, and gangs don’t understand jurisdictional lines, so Stafford County has to be able to work with its local partners in crime prevention, and that means going to Fredericksburg, going to Spotsylvania County and Prince William and that’s something that this county does not do well,” said Pelt.
Olsen fired back, saying Stafford is immune to many gang problems experienced in surrounding areas.
“We’re a bubble of safety, we’re an oasis when all around us things are going badly. Prince William County never got ahead of the game as far as gangs, and by the time they started reacting the gang problem got out of control and remains out of control…the criminals know what we have in Stafford. They know we have good law enforcement and they know we have good prosecution,” said Olsen.
Residency
Olsen’s residency has also become an issue in this campaign, as those elected to serve must live in the jurisdiction they represent. Olsen moved to garage apartment in Stafford County in March and is working to sell his single-family home in Fredericksburg.
“When Daniel Chichester finally made that decision [to retire] my house went up for sale, it has not yet sold, but when it is sold I will be able to afford a house in Stafford County. Right now, I can’t afford two homes. I rent an apartment, I’m there every night, I get conjugal visits with my wife every now and then, and when we sell our house our entire family will be living in Stafford County,” said Olsen.
Pelt says the Marine Corps brought him to Stafford County in 2000 and has lived there ever since.
Voters will go to the polls Aug. 23 for a Primary Election to decide which candidate will appear on the ballot for the general election on Nov. 8.
Recent Stories
On Sunday afternoon, nearly 100 people gathered in a Taco Bell parking lot less than a mile from the clinic’s doors with a shared aim: taking ownership of its now-precarious future.
The project to widen Balls Ford Road between Doane Drive and Ashton Avenue to a four-lane, divided roadway is now officially complete. The county’s Department of Transportation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the parking lot of the General Shale Brick Company last week.
Another round of weather challenges is in store today as a robust cold front approaches. The front will bring gusty winds and low relative humidity.
Join us on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., for the dedication of the Town of Occoquan’s LOVEworks sign in River Mill Park (415 Mill Street, Occoquan), designed by artist Darby Leondra. This event is free and open to the public.
To celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week (May 6-10, 2024), Clean Air Partners is working with A Few Cool Hardware Stores to exchange DC, Maryland and Virginia residents’ gas-powered lawnmowers, trimmers, and leaf blowers at select Ace Hardware locations in the region. DMV residents who turn in their gas-powered lawn tools will receive a FREE Ego Power+ replacement including batteries and chargers, while supplies last.
Compared to gas, electric lawn equipment can reduce emissions, noise pollution, health risks and maintenance costs and time. The program aims to remove about a hundred gas-powered polluting tools from yards in the greater Baltimore-Washington region.
The exchanges will take place the weekends of May 17-19, 2024, and May 31-June 2, 2024, at A Few Cool Hardware Stores network of employee-owned Ace Hardware stores in the DC and Baltimore metro areas. To participate and get your free Ego Power+ lawn tool, sign up at https://qrco.de/CAPExchange to reserve your tool and select your trade-in date and location.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges? Do stress and anxiety seem to dominate your thoughts? At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand that navigating mental health can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Our team of compassionate therapists is here to guide you on your journey toward inner peace and emotional well-being. With a client-centered approach, we tailor our therapy sessions to meet your unique needs and goals. Whether you’re struggling with depression, coping with trauma, or simply seeking personal growth, we provide a safe and supportive space for healing and growth.
Embark on a path of self-discovery with our comprehensive range of therapy services, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, and holistic approaches. Our experienced therapists are dedicated to helping you cultivate resilience, develop coping skills, and foster a greater sense of self-awareness.
Free Irish Music Concert
Welcoming Spring with music from the Emerald Isle, the New Dominion Choraliers offer a FREE concert on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City.
Joined by Legacy Brass and members of Old
Spring Ceili: An Irish Music Festival
The New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County and McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance invite you to join them at our Ceili, a grand celebration of Irish music and dance.
A gathering of performance groups throughout Prince William County
