Soros-Funded Prosecutor Faces Backlash Over Soft-on-Crime Approach
Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano, a prosecutor whose election campaign received substantial funding from organizations backed by left-wing billionaire George Soros, is confronting severe criticism for his perceived lenient stance on crime. Critics have labelled him 'America's worst prosecutor' following a series of controversial decisions that have allegedly allowed violent and sexual offenders back onto the streets, where they have reportedly reoffended.
Murder Case Involving Illegal Migrant
Last week, illegal migrant Abdul Jalloh, aged 32, was charged with the murder of Stephanie Minter, a 41-year-old woman found stabbed to death outside a bus stop. Jalloh has an extensive criminal record with more than two dozen arrests, including several for malicious wounding. A Freedom of Information Act request by Fox5 revealed that police had repeatedly warned Descano's office to keep this repeat offender behind bars, expressing fears he could strike again at any moment.
Despite these urgent pleas, Jalloh was not held on prior charges. Descano's office stated they lacked victim cooperation to secure his detention. The office later acknowledged Jalloh was well-known to law enforcement and had previously served jail time for a 2023 malicious wounding charge, but cited difficulties in prosecuting cases where victims, often vulnerable individuals with no fixed address, could not be located.
Sex Offender Case and Insanity Plea Controversy
Descano also faced scrutiny after his office failed to prosecute registered sex offender Richard Cox for allegedly exposing himself in a women's locker room in 2024. Months later, Cox was accused of repeating the offense in a high school girls' locker room and other locations. A spokesman for the prosecutor's office told ABC7 that prosecutors were not involved as it was a misdemeanor and Cox was not represented by a lawyer.
Further backlash came from the family of murdered charity CEO Gret Glyer, aged 32, who was shot dead in June 2022 as he slept next to his wife. Descano's office accepted an insanity plea from the killer, Joshua Daniel Danehower, aged 37. Danehower, who had briefly dated Glyer's wife and became obsessed with her, created a chilling planning document titled 'The Plan' detailing the meticulous steps to kill Glyer and escape.
A judge accepted the insanity plea, allowing Danehower to avoid jail time and be housed in a mental health facility with annual review for potential release. Glyer's sister, Gizan Glyer, expressed outrage, stating, 'There was a premeditated nature to his crime... He admits to this and yet he's using his mental health problems as an excuse to avoid any punitive punishment.' The Commonwealth of Virginia defended the decision, citing two independent experts finding the defendant legally insane at the time of the offense.
Dropped Murder Charges and Judicial Decisions
Descano's office dropped a second-degree murder charge against Robert Reed, accused of murdering a homeless man at a bus station last summer. Reed was released after DNA testing proved inconclusive and due to a lack of witness cooperation. Similarly, murder charges were dropped against Helena Little, accused of murdering her 79-year-old mother. A judge determined insufficient probable cause to proceed to trial.
In statements, Descano's office said these decisions were part of the judge's role in the criminal justice system and stood by its handling, emphasizing adherence to facts, evidence, and legal rules. The American Enterprise Institute branded Descano 'America's Worst Prosecutor' earlier this year, noting he took over $650,000 from Soros-backed organizations for his election bid. The Daily Mail has contacted Descano's office for comment.
