A Manassas man who brought an Uzi to Manassas Mall got a lenient sentence after Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth offered him a sweetheart deal to close out two separate cases related to the mall shooting and a separate case where jail officials alleged he participated in a jailhouse beating with five other men who cornered and beat three members of a rival gang.
Daevon Russell, 19, of 9306 Taney Road in Manassas, who at the time, was on pre-trial probation for a 2023 Manassas City shooting that left another teen paralyzed from the neck down, went to the Manassas Mall on July 9, 2024, armed with the Uzi and got into an altercation with another group of teens in the food court.
The altercation spilled outside into the mall parking lot when the shooting began. An innocent bystander and one of the combatants suffered gunshot wounds. The stipulations of his earlier pretrial release required him not to possess weapons, and Virginia law bars those under 21 from possessing handguns.
Originally charged with six felonies and six misdemeanors, Russell faced decades in prison. Ashworth’s agreement dismissed all of the felony charges and gave him a total of one year in jail and four years of Local Offender’s Probation for the misdemeanor charges and allowed him to retain both voting and gun rights. Russell admitted to owning the gun but did not get charged with possessing it under the age of 21.
Ashworth told Potomac Local News that there may have been issues with the case. “The prosecutor handling any case must always consider the strength of the evidence, the availability and willingness of witnesses to testify, the chances of succeeding at trial, the likely sentence if we are successful at trial, and the victim’s position regarding the outcome of the case as we evaluate how to proceed with a case. It is always our intention to seek justice and keep the community safe.”
Ashworth, when asked about Russell keeping his gun rights, which are normally removed from those convicted of felony offenses, said, “If there are consequences regarding his gun rights, you’ll have to look at the appropriate code sections.” Virginia code does not prevent those convicted of only misdemeanor charges from further possessing weapons.
Despite being sentenced to one year in jail and only being in custody for six months, Prince William Adult Detention Center officials confirm Russell’s confinement for all five cases ended on January 9, 2025, just one day after Circuit Court Judge Angela Horan and General District Court Judge Che’ Rogers accepted his plea agreement. He is still being held without bond for the 2023 shooting where he is scheduled to appear at trial March 3, 2025 to answer to those charges.
Both men injured in the Mall shooting have recovered.
Throughout the six-week course, inmates are able to develop their communication skills, build their confidence, develop active listening skills and articulate their stories with intent and purpose, a county press release stated.
Nick Baskerville, who coaches the workshop, emphasized the powerful tool that is storytelling. Baskerville is a storyteller and comedian.
“My mission for the class was to teach how to use storytelling as a tool to interact and connect with people,” Baskerville said. “I also hope the attendees understand the importance of their story and their perspective.”
“It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the transformation of our reentry community as they gain confidence and new perspectives on their journey. We all have a role to play in supporting them because they are the credible messengers who can inspire and uplift those often overlooked,” the Office of Community Safety’s Kimberly Sparkes said.
Many of the inmates who went through the course expressed their gratitude for their program, stating it pushed themselves and instilled more confidence in them.
Capt. Allen West II from the ADC said communication is an important aspect of being successful when released from prison.
“We want them to be able to have that voice where they will be able to get that interview for that job, be hired for that job and potentially make a career for themselves,” West said. “This is just to give them those tools to be successful because communication is one of the most essential tools that we need.”
Sanctuary jurisdictions typically have regulations that limit cooperation with ICE, impacting the enforcement of immigration laws. These measures may include refusing ICE detainers, restricting agency interactions with ICE, or hindering the sharing of information about incarcerated aliens.
ICE uses detainers as a key mechanism to detain aliens involved in criminal activities, ensuring their custody transfer for deportation. These detainers provide details about the individual’s criminal and immigration history, highlighting their public safety or security risk.
Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center, expressed concern over the growth of sanctuary policies. “It is alarming to see the continued proliferation of sanctuary policies, especially in places like Virginia, where ICE has had to use its scarce resources to re-arrest violent gang members and rapists in our communities who were set free by local jails, when they should have been transferred directly to ICE custody for a plane ride home,” Vaughan stated.
The proliferation of sanctuary policies raises concerns, particularly due to the necessity for ICE to reallocate resources to apprehend dangerous criminals who are released by local authorities rather than being transferred to ICE. Vaughan emphasizes the need for legislative action to foster cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE, and to address non-compliance.
The newly updated map introduces 170 new sanctuary regions across the U.S., including counties and cities. Some of these jurisdictions are in states with laws against sanctuary policies. The report highlights significant increases in sanctuary designations in states like Virginia, North Dakota, Nebraska, New York, and Minnesota.
This update, derived from ICE’s internal tracking and a Freedom of Information Act request, points to over 10,000 deportable aliens being released back into communities over the years due to sanctuary policies, with many reoffending.
The news comes as Virginia State Senator Tara Durant (R) revealed reports of two additional intrusions at Quantico Marine Corps Base following the arrests of two men from Jordan who were in the U.S. illegally. Potomac Local News broke the story and told you the men were arrested after allegedly posing as Amazon delivery drivers and ramming the front gate of the military installation on May 3, 2023.
Durant said the additional incursions occurred on May 3, the same day two Jordanian nationals in the U.S. illegally posed as Amazon delivery men.
Prince William County leaders may not want federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement in its jail, but apparently, they're OK with them in the county's recently acquired firearms training center.
The Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, is expected to approve multiple agreements with various law enforcement agencies, both federal and local, to use the Prince William County Police Department Scenario-Based Training Center at 7751 Doane Drive near Gainesville.
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The Living Library Initiative, a fledgling project to benefit one of our county’s most vulnerable populations, seeks to expand and diversify the books available for people incarcerated in the Prince William/Manassas Regional Jail. Through active collaboration with community partners, the PWOPD is gathering new reading material for those held at our local jail while strengthening ties to the larger community the office serves.
Prior to the Initiative’s launch on March 13, The Initiative organizers collected ideas from Prince William [Adult Detention Center], community organizations, and incarcerated individuals about the jail’s most pressing literature needs. The results can be found in the Living Library Initiative’s Amazon Wishlist and fliers distributed throughout the community. There are several drop box locations across the county for those who have new or gently used paperback books they wish to donate, including at firehouses, community centers, churches, and libraries.
The Prince William Public Defender Living Library Initiative has roughly one month left and will accept paperback book donations through May 15.
Drop box locations, highly desired books, and links to the Initiative can be found on Instagram (@pwdefenderslivinglibrary) and Facebook (Living Library Initiative) or by emailing the organizers directly at [email protected].
— The Prince William Public Defender Office
The first couple donated a $43,750 check, the governor’s first-quarter salary, to Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, which works with inmates inside the jail, according to a press release.
The governor’s office did not tip off the press to his visit. Afterward, the first couple visited the nearby Prince William County Western District Police Station and spoke with a graduating crisis intervention team class.
More in a press release from the governor’s office:
Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin today announced the donation of his first-quarter salary to the Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, an organization dedicated to supplying faith-based resources for jails and prisons in the Commonwealth of Virginia and worldwide.
At the Prince William County Adult Detention Center, Governor Youngkin maintained his promise to donate his gubernatorial salary to organizations that strengthen Virginia communities.
“I pledged to serve without accepting a salary to support Virginians every way I can,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “The Good News Jail & Prison Ministry exemplifies the heart and Spirit of Virginia by providing hope, resources, and transformational opportunities for incarcerated Virginians. This administration continues to respect the law and those inside the criminal justice system with increased access to mental health services, best practices for trade skill acquisition and by maintaining excellence in the restoration of rights process, among other priorities.”
“On the eve of Second Chance Month, Glenn and I laud the life-changing mission of Good News Jail & Prison Ministry,” said First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin. “We firmly believe that every Virginian deserves an opportunity to flourish and we are grateful for this opportunity to support great and Godly works.”
Police said three inmates earned new charges after a mob assault inside the Manassas jail.
On Friday, October 28, police said a 39-year-old man, an inmate of the facility identified as the victim, was inside a room when multiple other inmates entered.
During the encounter, the victim was struck and kicked several times by the other inmates before jail staff separated the parties. concluded an investigation into an assault that was reported to have occurred at the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center, located at 9320 Lee Avenue in Manassas, on March 17.
The victim was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries and is expected to recover.
While investigating, officers identified four inmates involved in the assault. On October 28, three inmates were charged and remain incarcerated at the ADC. Officers obtained arrest warrants for Jose Fernando Martinez Gonzales, identified as the fourth man involved in the assault and had subsequently been released before service. Attempts to locate the remaining assailant have been unsuccessful.
Traivon Rashod Johnson, 26, 12195 Kinnicutt Drove in Woodbridge Emiliano I. Reynoso, 21, of 5606 Bismach Drive, in Alexandria Roberto Jose Marrero, 29, of 9221 Landgreen Street in Manassas. The three are charged with assault by mob.
