Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk Jacqueline Smith, Esq. called for student artwork from students in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park cities.
Read more in a press release from the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office:
The Clerk is celebrating Law Day with her 4th Annual Artwork Contest. The contest is open to all local students in grades 1st – 12th enrolled for the 2023-2024 school year, including private, home, and public schools.
The Clerk encourages all students to embark on illustrating the theme, “Voices of Democracy.” The deadline to submit artwork is Wednesday, April 24, 2024.
Law Day is celebrated every year in the month of May since its inception by President Eisenhower in 1958 to increase awareness about the role of law in a free society.
This year, “Americans will address fundamental questions about democracy and the rule of law” through the United States’ presidential election. Interweaving the ideals of civics and democracy, the American Bar Association developed the Law Day theme, “Voices of Democracy”.
To incorporate these ideas, the Clerk’s 4th Annual Law Day Art Contest is intended to be an exciting and educational way for students (1st-12th) and their respective schools to illustrate civil discourse, participation and fair elections in a free society within the theme “Voices of Democracy” in a creative way. The presentation of artwork and award announcements will be made at the Clerk of Circuit Court’s Law Day Ceremony and Open House, TBD.
For Artwork Entry Rules and Information, please click here.
The Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Amy Ashworth, has announced the successful prosecution of Isaiah McGriff in connection with the July 2022 murder of a woman in Woodbridge. On March 12, 2024, a Prince William County jury found McGriff guilty of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The case, Commonwealth of Virginia v. Isaiah McGriff, was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Commonwealth Attorneys Kathleen Bilton and Dircia Schubert.
On July 1, 2022, police responded to a shooting at 13990 Jefferson Davis Hwy (Longview 7-Eleven) in Prince William County, where they discovered the victim, Claudia Morataya, deceased from an apparent gunshot wound to the abdomen. An investigation revealed that Isaiah McGriff, the defendant, was present outside the 7-Eleven that night, along with the victim and others, drinking and socializing before the shooting occurred. A verbal dispute ensued between the victim and the defendant, culminating in the victim throwing a beer bottle at McGriff. McGriff was heard making threatening remarks before later shooting the victim in nearby woods, a press release notes.
The firearm used in the homicide was recovered at a nearby apartment, where McGriff was known to stay. McGriff denied being present near the 7-Eleven during an interview with detectives, but evidence, including footage from a doorbell camera at the apartment building, placed him in the vicinity shortly after the homicide.
McGriff’s sentencing is scheduled for July 25, 2024, before a Prince William County Circuit Court Judge. Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth expressed gratitude for the extensive investigation conducted by police detectives, which provided crucial circumstantial evidence for the case. She commended the prosecutors, Kathleen Bilton and Dircia Schubert, for their dedication in securing justice for Claudia’s murder.
McGriff had several previous charges in Prince William County before the murder, including a robbery at home in 2019, which a judge tossed out.
The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney also acknowledged the essential support provided by Kristen Marek, Deputy Director of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Victim/Witness Program, to the victim’s family. Recognition was also given to the diligent efforts of the Prince William County Police Department detectives and officers involved in the case.
A Prince William County judge dropped a rape charge against a man accused of raping a 10-year-old girl in Dale City.
Prince William County Circuit Court Judge Carroll A. Weimer Jr. dropped the charge on March 6. The suspect, 40-year-old Bernabe Garcia of Woodbridge, was set to appear for a jury trial on the rape charge from March 18 to 21, 2024.
Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth said she had no comment on the case and emailed:
“I do not comment on cases involving juveniles alleged to have been sexually abused as I believe their privacy should be respected. Speaking generally and not specifically about any case, I will tell you that we never “drop” charges – that is not a legal term used when speaking about criminal charges. The Commonwealth may elect to nolle prose or “not prosecute” the charges at this time. This does not prevent charges from being brought back at a later date. The decision to nolle prose a case can be made by a prosecutor for a variety of reasons, such as the unavailability of key witnesses to appear at trial, the need for additional evidence or investigation by the police, the discovery of evidence inconsistent with the original charges, the need for further testing of evidence at the forensics lab, the inability of witnesses to testify, the desire of a victim to not move forward with prosecution, etc. I can assure you that the decision to nolle prose a case is not made lightly and is done in consultation with the victim and the police.”
It’s the second time Ashworth has declined to comment in as many months. Last month, Ashworth refused to comment on The arrest of Jose Rafael Lizama, a 47-year-old resident of Manassas Park, charged in the death of Justin Burns, who was struck and killed while walking near the Old Town Sports Pub in Downtown Manassas on December 2, 2023.
Police arrested Lizama immediately following the crash on December 2, 2023, when he was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Astonishingly, he was released the next day on a personal recognizance.
Police arrested Lizama a second time on February 2, 2024, when Lizama, this time facing charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection to Burns’ death. However, Lizama was released on February 5, 2024, upon posting a $5,000 secured bond.
For the rape case, police charged Garcia On February 16, 2023, when detectives with the Prince William County Police Special Victims Bureau concluded an investigation into a sexual assault that was reported to have occurred at a home in Dale City on January 16 and February 12, 2023. The investigation revealed the female victim, who was under the age of 10 at the time of the offenses, was sexually assaulted by the accused on more than one occasion, police said.
Police said Garcia knew his victim. The victim reported the incident to a family member, who contacted the police, prompting the investigation.
Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk: On February 14, 2024, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Jacqueline Smith, administered 23 wedding ceremonies at her 6th Annual Valentine’s Day Wedding Bash, hosted at the ARTfactory in downtown Manassas.
The location provided a unique and picturesque setting for couples to say, ‘I do.’ The building, a local creative arts hub, offered a modern-rustic setting for couples to exchange vows.
Couples walked down an aisle lined with rose petals, which led to a floral arch where their marriage was officially pronounced and sealed with a kiss. They then received photo booth services, individual wedding cookies, and gift bags filled with goodies.
With the help and contributions of the local businesses, the Clerk’s 6th Annual Valentine’s Day Bash was a great success and made a lasting impression on everyone who attended.
A full list of the local businesses is available on the clerks social media accounts, @PWCCircuitCourt. For information about the Circuit Court Clerk’s services, including marriage licenses and civil celebrant services, please visit pwcva.gov/department/circuit-court.
“The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth District has dismissed an appeal by a right-wing advocacy group ordered to stop distributing false, threatening, and misleading mailers prior to November’s election, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced Friday,” Insidenova.com reports.
The Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk: “Circuit Court Clerk Jacqueline Smith is planning civil celebrant weddings and vow renewals for her 6th Annual Valentine’s Day Bash. Couples can exchange vows in an intimate ceremony surrounded by friends and family on February 14, 2024, at the Art Factory, a contemporary art hub located in the refurbished historic Hopkins Candy Factory building in downtown Manassas, Virginia.”
“Every year, Clerk Smith hosts a Valentine’s Day Bash to provide couples with special civil celebrant ceremonies. The Bash is intended to be a full day of elegant courthouse-style weddings and vow renewals. Clerk Smith’s annual Valentine’s Day Bash brings together couples and the community to celebrate love.”
“It worked out that [the Clerk’s 2023 Valentine’s Day Bash] was happening on a special day for us, the anniversary of our first date, and when we could celebrate with our family,” said one couple. At last year’s celebration, couples renewed their vows after 15 to 40 years of marriage, and some read handwritten vows in adoration of their partners, which made the occasion unforgettable.”
“All couples are welcome! To schedule your marriage license application and ceremony at the Clerk’s 2024 Valentine’s Day Bash, please contact the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office at 703-792-6015 or email [email protected].”
Prince William County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney: “Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth announces the successful prosecution of Jacob Belotti arising from the February 2018 death of Dustin Lueker in Haymarket, Virginia. Mr. Belotti pled not guilty to three charges and after a three-day jury trial, was convicted of Felony Murder and Distribution of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance.”
“On the afternoon of Sunday, February 25, 2018, Prince William County Fire and Rescue and Police responded to Youngs Drive in Haymarket for a 911 call regarding an unresponsive individual. Dustin Lueker was found dead on the living room floor of Mr. Belotti’s residence. Mr. Belotti claimed the two had consumed alcohol and gone to bed the day before and that when he awoke, his friend was dead. One eyewitness later came forward to challenge Mr. Belotti’s version of events and eventually police determined that multiple individuals had partied with Belotti and Lueker, initially at Mr. Lueker’s apartment and then at Mr. Belotti’s house.”
"The Supreme Court of Virginia on Thursday reversed a lower court’s decision by reinstating a lawsuit brought by a former West Point High School teacher after he was fired for refusing to refer to a transgender student by his requested pronouns," reports the Virginia Mercury.
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“A Prince William County, Virginia, program that aims to make court services more accessible is returning to the region early next year,” WTOP-FM reports.
