Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth: “Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth announces the sentencing of Adrian Kendall Bryant on the first-degree murder conviction arising from the July 12, 2021, murder of a 17-year-old juvenile in Woodbridge, Virginia and the successful prosecution of Paul England for the February 2023 stabbing that occurred in Woodbridge, Virginia.”

“On July 12, 2021, at approximately 11 am, Adrian Kendall Bryant met with the juvenile victim, along with two other individuals at a location on Still Place in Prince William County. Several homeowners’ cameras captured the brief interaction between the juvenile and Mr. Bryant, who produced a handgun and fired three shots at the juvenile victim, hitting him twice.”

Amy Ashworth was on the ropes for most of a political debate between her and challenger Matt Lowery, each vying to run the Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney's Office.

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Republicans are making Prince William County's skyrocketing crime and murder rates a key campaign issue.

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Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney: “Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth announces the sentencing of Billy Riggs, 40, related to the sexual assault of four minors which occurred in Prince William County, VA, between July 2011 and December 2013. Mr. Riggs pled guilty to one count of rape and four counts of aggravated sexual battery on July 25, 2022. On July 14, 2023, Mr. Riggs was sentenced to serve 90 years in prison.”

“On April 2, 2019, Prince William County Police began an investigation into a sexual assault that was reported to have occurred in Triangle between July 2011 and December 2013. The investigation revealed that one victim, who was between 4 and 6 years old at the time, was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance on more than one occasion.”

Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney: “Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth announces today the sentencing of Robert Coltrain, 27, related to the murder of Brian Trotter which occurred in Prince William County, VA on or about October 17, 2020. Mr. Coltrain pled guilty to first-degree murder on June 28, 2022. On July 7, 2023, Mr. Coltrain was sentenced to 75 years in prison with 30 of those years suspended.”

“On October 17, 2020, Brian Trotter was reported missing by his family. Trotter had last been seen by his father getting into a vehicle with his friend, Robert Coltrain, to go to Washington D.C. Mr. Trotter gave his son a hug and said goodbye as Trotter left his residence with Coltrain. On October 26, 2020, while police in Virginia were investigating the disappearance, Florida Highway Patrol officers found a body decomposing in the trunk of a vehicle that was involved in a motor vehicle accident in the Miami-Dade area. Authorities were able to identify the body as Brian Trotter and immediately began an investigation of the death, leading them to the driver of the vehicle, Robert Coltrain. Mr. Coltrain was arrested by the Miami-Dade Police Department and eventually extradited back to Prince William County to stand trial for the murder.”

“This was such a troubling case because of the lack of motive and the friendship that the victim and defendant shared. My heart goes out to the Trotter family for the loss of their son. Although nothing will bring Brian back to his family, we can rest assured that justice has been served for his murder.’ said Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth.”

Paul B. Ebert, a Democrat who served as Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney from 1968 until his retirement in 2019, endorsed Matthew B. “Matt” Lowery, the GOP nominee running to be the county's top prosecutor.

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Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham will be front and center during the Board of County Supervisors meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2023, to update elected leaders about crime in the county.

According to Newsham’s 2o22 executive summary, the violent crime rate jumped an eye-popping 70% from 2019 to 2022, which includes murder, manslaughter, rape, sodomy, and robbery (outlined on page 48 of the department’s 2021 report).

The overall crime rate rose 23% in the past year, with 38 crimes per every 1,000 county residents reported, up from 32 in 2021. Even more alarming, the murder rate doubled in a year, with 20 homicides in 15 incidents in 2022.

All but two of the 2022 murder cases have been solved.

Last week, we reported Newsham said the crime report would be released soon and that it “doesn’t look good.” Newsham’s executive summary was found in Tuesday’s meeting agenda as a precursor to a more detailed crime report for 2022 that will be released at a to-be-determined date.

The crime rate has skyrocketed under the leadership of the current Board of County Supervisors, controlled by Democrats, and Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth (D), who took office in 2020.

Under Ashworth, grand jury indictments have fallen from more than 200 to about 70 per month, despite supervisors providing additional funding to the commonwealth attorney to hire more staff.

In a January 2023 interview with this news organization, Ashworth denied the rising crime rate and stated it was a “Republican narrative repeated only by people who watch Fox News.” Ashworth also explained that indicting more people, as was done under her predecessor, Paul Ebert, a Democrat, was just a means to put numbers in a board to increase state funding.

“That incentive is completely contrary to what you do as a prosecutor,” Ashworth told PLN, who added those caught with cocaine for the first time should not face felony charges. Republican Matt Lowery is challenging Ashworth in the November 2023 General Election.

Also, on Tuesday, we expect an update from the county’s transportation department, which is constructing new interchanges on Prince William Parkway near Manassas at Balls Ford and Brentsville roads.

During the 7:30 p.m. session, School Board Chairman Dr. Babur Lateef will present the school division’s $2.4 billion budget. The school division’s budget is tied to supervisors’ set real estate tax rate set to be approved later this month.

The county is slated to give the school system $192 million, its largest funding share, when combined with state and federal money.

Later, supervisors will be asked to rezone 51 acres from Planned Business District to Planned Mixed Residential for 334 age-restricted homes.

The meeting is held at 1 County Complex Court in Woodbridge. The afternoon session begins at 2 p.m., and the evening session at 7:30 p.m.

Can’t go? You can watch live and archived meeting videos here.