FCSO arrest bank robbery suspect
The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) announced the arrest of Ethan Smith of Fromans Road in Frederick County.
Smith has been charged with the August 18 bank robbery of the Bank of Clarke County on Crock Wells Mills Drive Winchester.
Smith’s father determined that his son may have been involved with the robbery and went to the FCSO with his suspicions.
Based on information provided Sheriff’s Office personnel executed a search warrant of the family’s home.
Evidence believed to be related to the crime was recovered and secured.
That evidence included a small SUV vehicle believed to be the suspect’s getaway vehicle from the robbery.
Smith has been charged with robbery, entering a bank with intent to rob, possession of a firearm in commission of a felony, grand larceny and brandishing a firearm.
As of Mon. afternoon Aug. 22 Smith remained  incarcerated at the regional adult detention facility.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Loudoun County Authorities arrest an embezzlement ring
Loudoun County Authorities announced the arrest of three men accused of embezzling over $250,000 in a nearly two year span.
Francisco Aguilar Paz, Jose Aguilar Paz both of Leesburg and Raul Gozales Ascencio of Manassas face a number of charges including felony embezzlement.
Two of those men worked for Beckstrom Electric and conspired with the owner of a temporary worker agency.
The three conspired to created fake employees and charged wages through time sheets for Beckstrom Electric.
That scheme began in December 2020 and continued until May of 2022.
In addition the investigation also revealed that the three suspects were stealing scrap copper from job sites and selling it to make close to $47,000.
The three have been released on bound from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
A second arrest in the Touch of Texas shooting
A second arrest has been made in the fatal shooting at a Touch of Texas in Bunker Hill West Virginia.
The arrest stems from the initial 911 call from the Winchester Avenue establishment around 2:30 a.m. May 6.
The Journal reports 20 year old Lorenzo Valle of Stephens City has also been arrested.
Valle faces a felony charge of a person prohibited from carrying firearms and a charge of possession of a controlled substance.
Authorities found Valle moving back and forth from vehicle to vehicle in the parking lot the night of the shooting.
Berkeley County Sheriff’s Deputies searched the vehicle to find a 9 millimeter Glock handgun and a bag of what is believed to be cocaine.
Authorities have already arrested 18 year old Dyreek Harris of Winchester.Â
Harris was arrested for his involvement in the dispute that initiated the 911 call.
Harris faces four counts of wanton endangerment with a firearm.
The victim of the shooting was Diata Johnson of Winchester who accompanied Harris.
Authorities have arrested the suspected shooter in the incident but have not released their identity as it is an ongoing investigation.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Frederick County resident arrested for suspected arson
An email from the Frederick County Virginia Government confirms the arrest of a Frederick County resident for suspected arson.
Frederick County Fire and Rescue (FCFR) received multiple 911 calls reporting a structure fire in the 700 block of Fawn Drive in the Mountain Falls Park Subdivision.
While on the way to the fire dispatchers informed crews that a suspect was seen fleeing the scene.
Further information was received that the owner of the home had blown the structure up and left in a Ford F-150.
A Be On The Lookout Order (BOLO) was issued to stop and detain the individual for investigative purposes.
Virginia State Police and Frederick County Sheriff’s Office found the suspect in the area of Panther and Remington Drives.
Justin M. Snapp of 711 Fawn Drive was arrested for Driving Under the Influence.
Based on further information gathered at the scene of the fire and statements from neighbors authorities have added charges of Burning or Destroying a Dwelling or House to Snapp’s charges.
The fire on Fawn Drive involved the house a vehicle with smaller fires found on the grounds around the house.
Estimated damage to the property is projected to be at approximately $130,000.
The incident remains under investigation anyone with information is asked to call the Frederick County Fire Marshal’s Office.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Page County couple is sentenced on drug charges
A news release from the United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Virginia confirms the sentence of a Luray Resident.
Danica Lee Strate of Luray pleaded guilty on Feb. 4 to one count of the possession of 29 pounds of methamphetamine.
Strate and co-defendant Gene Stidham were living in Stanley in 2019 when law enforcement and a probation officer raided their residence.
During the search crystal methamphetamine, a wallet and plastic bags were recovered.
Later a subsequent search uncovered a duffel bag with the 29 pounds of methamphetamine, cash, scales, pistol and other items.
Stidham has since been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for illegal drug trafficking offenses.
Strate has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to similar charges.
The investigation was conducted by Page County Authorities, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and explosives and Virginia State Police.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Authorities make an arrest after a chase from Frederick to Loudoun Counties
A social media post from Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office announced an arrest has been made in a high speed chase.
The initial post was to warn of increased police activity in the Purcellville area.
Later the post was updated to read that authorities arrested 65 year old Kenneth Sencindiver and his 24 year old son Kenneth the second.
The incident began in Frederick County VA. involving a domestic related incident.
The pair were pursued from Frederick County into Clarke County when authorities reported the pair turned off of Rt. 7 into Purcellville.
Once in Purcellville Loudoun County authorities picked up pursuit.
Those authorities found the pair’s car abandoned at Patrick Henry College.
Authorities moved their pursuit to foot and utilized a Fairfax County helicopter.
The post went on to conclude that the pair had been apprehended near Patrick Henry College without incident.
The investigation continues with more details to be released.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Juvenile is charged with 4 counts of threats
In a news release from Butch L. Shifflett of the Staunton Police Department a 16 year old has been taken into custody involving threats.
After receiving reports of a threat of violence involving students at Staunton High School Staunton Police took the 16 year old into custody.
The 16 year old has been charged with four counts of making threats of death or bodily injury to a person.
The juvenile is being held at the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Detention Center.
Staunton Police and School Officials continue to work together to ensure a safe learning environment for all students, staff and teachers at the high school.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Luray Police seek information on a home invasion and car theft
According to a Luray Police Department (LPD) social media post authorities are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a stolen 2007 Laser Blue Chevrolet Equinox.
The vehicle has a Virginia Registration 3160CC with slight damage to the passenger side door and rear fender.
An abandoned vehicle was found near the scene on Old Farm Rd..
That vehicle is a 2006 bright blue Kia with Texas plates.
The Kia is registered to a Harrisonburg subject named Gonzalez who may be involved in the incident.
The Equinox was stolen during a home invasion early yesterday Oct. 31 in the Collins Ave. area.
Anyone with information on the vehicle or home invasion is asked to call (540) 743-5343.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Former EDA Executive Director pleads not guilty
Former Front Royal Warren County Economic Development Authority (EDA) Executive Director Jennifer McDonald pleaded not guilty to the 34 federal charges brought against her.
The former Executive Director made the formal plea in her appearance virtually in U.S. District Court for the Western District.
This was McDonald’s first appearance since her Aug. 31 arrest.
Harrisonburg Judge Joel Hoppe set a November 3 trial date.
McDonald remains free on personal recognizance bond pending that Nov. 3 date.
McDonald’s court appointed attorney indicated a continuance would likely be sought at that court date.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Former EDA Executive Director is arrested declared the sole defendant
The former Executive Director of the Front Royal Warren County Economic Development Authority (EDA) Jennifer McDonald has been arrested.
McDonald was charged as the sole defendant in an indictment in which she faces 34 counts of wire fraud, bank fraud along with aggravated identity theft.
The former EDA director was arrested yesterday Aug. 31.
After yesterday’s arraignment McDonald was released on her own recognizance and ordered into pretrial services and forbidden to contact her husband.
McDonald’s husband Samuel North is a potential witness in the case.
McDonald has asked for a court appointed attorney to defend her.
The EDA’s news release states they will cooperate fully with Government Investigators and Prosecutors in the presentation of the case.
Current Chairman Jeff Browne acknowledged that this was a long time coming.
Browne went on to acknowledge that the amount of time is not unusual in federal prosecutions.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.