People all over the world who watched this trial saw that Juliana’s testimony was invaluable in helping the jury understand the convoluted double-murder plot orchestrated by Brendan Banfield. No prison sentence can address the harm created by her actions. (1/3)

Red flag laws are the only proactive tool prosecutors have to build public safety & potentially prevent a tragedy before it happens. By removing barriers to individuals getting the help they need, we keep our communities safer. virginiaindependentnews.com/politics/ass...

I am extremely proud that we let the evidence speak for itself—and that the community knows with certainty who is responsible for the deaths of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan.

Prosecuting federal agents can be a difficult process. I know that first-hand. But it’s our obligation to hold them accountable. Hey, federal officials: If you breach state law, you have to answer to state authorities. www.politico.com/news/2026/01...

The federal government thinks they’re above the law. Enough. Today, we’re founding the Project for the Fight Against Federal Overreach (FAFO) to hold federal officials accountable for abuse of power.

Nelson Alexander didn’t know the defendant, he didn’t do anything wrong, and he was just going about his day as usual. This needless, senseless violence that stole a husband and father from his family is beyond tragic. (1/2)

🚨 Milestone alert 🚨 We're about to cross 400 Red Flag cases handled—with this update, we're officially at 399. This number leads the Commonwealth, and it's a testament to the work we've done to take advantage of this proven way to proactively prevent gun violence.

2025 was another year of making Fairfax County a safer place to live—these are our office’s top 10 highlights and achievements. See you in 2026!

For someone who loved life as much as Cara did, this is maybe the most cruel ending imaginable. Today, her murderer was held accountable. Nothing can bring Cara back, but to her family and friends: I hope this allows you to begin to heal.

Some cases we've prosecuted recently include: - A 52 y/o for strangling their wife and preventing her from calling 911 after an argument - A 46 y/o for killing someone as part of a mob

We brought survivors and prosecutors together to learn how the criminal legal system can do better in supporting the needs and healing of victims of crime. Survivors are too often spoken for. This discussion flipped the script. Survivors led the conversation. Prosecutors showed up to listen.

My biggest priority is your safety. Below, you can see a snapshot of the work we do to protect you, your family, and our larger Fairfax community.

CA Descano’s report on the April 29, 2025 officer-involved shooting.

Below, you can see a snapshot of some of the work we’ve done recently to protect you, your family, and our larger Fairfax community.

My heart breaks for the victim’s family. His parents deserved the chance to see him graduate high school and pursue his dreams. He had his whole life ahead of him, and I hope that this conviction allows everyone who knew him to continue healing from this terrible loss.

Marilyn Sommer’s long life ended in her own home, at the hands of her own husband. This is a tragic outcome for the whole Sommer family.

This is the type of scenario that usually only exists in our nightmares, and certainly not in Fairfax County. Our police deserve full credit for never giving up on this cold case—and after nearly 30 long years, the victim of this horrific act is finally receiving the closure she deserves.

Below, you can see a snapshot of some of the work we’ve done recently to protect you, your family, and our larger Fairfax community.

CA Descano’s report on the April 23, 2025 officer-involved shooting.

Below, you can see a snapshot of some of the work we’ve done recently to protect you, your family, and our larger Fairfax community.

The Pilot's Editorial Board is spot-on: red flag laws are one of the best tools at our disposal to prevent gun violence, but Virginia doesn't use them enough. Every county in the Commonwealth should use them as much as we do here in Fairfax. www.pilotonline.com/2025/09/29/e...

CA Descano released a statement today regarding AG Miyares’ “investigation.”

It’s been proven that prioritizing fairness in our justice system leads to better public safety outside of it. We prioritize treating everyone, from victims to defendants, with basic human dignity and respect — a critical step to building long-term public safety. #theFairfaxModel

Kate LaPorta should still be with us today. Max Nguyen’s needless actions stole a daughter from her parents and a mother from her children. I’m relieved that his attempts to lie about what happened to Kate did not allow him to escape accountability.

Stealing is stealing, and financial crimes can be just as devastating for victims’ families. I’m proud to have secured a conviction in what is our county’s largest-ever wage theft case.

This morning, we hosted Fairfax’s first-ever Expungement Clinic at the Hybla Valley Community Center. Removing charges you were never convicted of can lift barriers to getting a job or finding housing—improving public safety.

There’s no question about it: Red flag laws save lives and prevent tragedies. Every locality in the Commonwealth should follow our lead and fully embrace this effective strategy to reduce violence in our communities. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/11/l...

Below, you can see a snapshot of some of the work we’ve done recently to protect you, your family, and our larger Fairfax community.

The claim that we should charge kids (as young as 12!) as adults is just plain wrong. A child’s still-developing brain is incredibly receptive to rehabilitation—and studies have shown that charging a kid as an adult only makes it *more likely* they’ll commit crime again once released.

Below, you can see a snapshot of some of the work we’ve done recently to protect you, your family, and our larger Fairfax community.

ICYMI: One of our diversion programs received a grant from Microsoft! These programs work—proving that we can keep you safe without flooding our jails and prisons.

Wrongful convictions have terrible consequences for families and undermine trust in our justice system. That’s why we created a Conviction Integrity Unit, the first-ever in our county, to make sure that innocent people are not in prison for a crime they didn’t commit. #theFairfaxModel

Cash bail—AKA, allowing someone to pay to get released from jail pre-trial—is getting a lot of attention. Here’s the thing: it’s wrong. A system pursuing actual justice has no business giving someone preferential treatment just because they have money.

Below, you can see a snapshot of some of the work we’ve done recently to protect you, your family, and our larger Fairfax community.

CA Descano announced today that there was a sentence in the viral Cybertruck/Lamborghini street race case.

“The young adults have been very receptive to restorative justice,” [Program Coordinator] Taylor Piepenhagen said, “often quick to take accountability for their actions and work towards repairing the harm done to individuals and the community as whole.” www.ffxnow.com/2025/07/25/f...

One of our diversion programs just received a grant from Microsoft and the Urban Institute! AASC provides an alternative to incarceration for youth (18-26) whose brains are still developing—a critical measure for us to reduce recidivism and lower crime.

Below, you can see a snapshot of some of the work we’ve done recently to protect you, your family, and our larger Fairfax community.

Your Red Flag Law Data Dashboard has been updated with June 2025 data. Below, you can see an overview of how Emergency Substantial Risk Orders (ESROs) and Substantial Risk Orders (SROs) are being used to prevent gun violence in Fairfax County. www.fairfaxcounty.gov/commonwealth...

Throwing non-violent offenders in jail, just for the sake of it, doesn’t create safety. It creates evictions, lost jobs, & children who are left to fend for themselves. If we aren’t deliberate about when we incarcerate, we could be feeding the conditions that create crime in the first place.

Here are some of the cases my office has handled recently, to keep Fairfax the safest county of its size.

The “tough-on-crime” approach doesn’t reduce crime. If it did, you’d know by now. We don’t just imitate what’s always been done; we innovate. That means utilizing diversion programs, giving people second chances, and actually preventing crime tomorrow. #theFairfaxModel

Last week, I had the honor of hosting a delegation from the Seoul Bar Association as part of their study on global prosecutorial systems. We discussed prosecutor independence in the U.S., the grand jury process, & how we work with law enforcement. 🇺🇸⚖️🇰🇷 dc.koreatimes.com/article/2025...

My top priority is your safety. Here are some of the cases we’ve prosecuted recently, to keep Fairfax the safest county of its size.

CA Descano announced yesterday that Ezequiel Diaz-Mondragon, 21, was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder for killing Anthony “Tony” Benitez, 18, on February 19, 2021.

In the past, prosecutors in our justice system were incentivized to rack up as many convictions as possible. But that’s not how we do things here. Our goal isn’t a conviction. Our goal is an outcome that holds people accountable while preventing crime in the future. #theFairfaxModel

“Descano has made [red flag laws] his bread and butter … it’s an approach he says other counties could replicate.” Any law that could prevent a shooting or a suicide is something worth doing—and I’m proud that Fairfax is leading on this issue. richmond.com/news/state-r...

My biggest priority is keeping you safe, and doing so transparently—here are some samples of cases we’ve prosecuted recently, to help keep Fairfax the safest county of its size.

Being smart-on-crime means adapting to each individual case—firm when necessary, restorative when possible.

This morning's news was difficult to hear. Gerry Connolly wasn't just a Northern Virginia icon, but a friend. I count myself lucky, as a Fairfax County resident, to have benefited from his decades of leadership – a legacy that will be felt for generations to come.