FRPD make another arrest involving crimes against children
Front Royal Police Department (FRPD) announced the arrest of a suspect in connection to crimes against children.
Detectives began an investigation into the solicitation of a Warren County Front Royal minor on Oct. 10.
On Oct. 22 24-year-old Centreville resident Harsh Gupta was arrested and charged with 4 counts of the use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children.
Gupta is also charged with attempted indecent liberties for a proposed sex act.
Gupta made an unsolicited arrangement to meet a police detective posing as an under aged female at a location in Front Royal.
On arrival Gupta was arrested and transported to the Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Warren Regional Jail and is being held without bond.
The FRPD is an active member of the Northern Virginia DC Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force coordinated by the Virginia State Police.
Anyone with any information regarding the Gupta case or any solicitation or exploitation of any minor should contact the FRPD.
Information on the Gupta case should be directed to Detective M.R. Ramey at 540-636-2208 or email mramey@frontroyalva.com.
Call 540-635-2111 with any information involving a crime against a child.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Front Royal woman receives 7 years for opiate operation
An ABC News affiliate reports that the Front Royal woman who ran an opiate network with coconspirators will serve seven years in prison.
Candie Calix of Front Royal also known as Summer Angel, Candie Kendall and Nicole Thomas worked alongside her codefendants Kendall Sovereign and Jessica Talbott in the scheme.
The group worked with an unnamed doctor and pharmacist in a scheme that saw tens of thousands of illicit oxycodone pills run through Northern Virginia over a decade.
Calix as a part of her plea agreement confirmed that she worked as an office assistant for an unidentified doctor.
Calix would refer patients to the doctor for prescriptions of medications that would then be kicked back to her to sell.
The patients included members of Calix’s family who all lived in a single property near Front Royal in what some describe as poverty.
According to inmate informants working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Calix would sell the pills for about $25 each.
The investigation revealed that Calix could net approximately $5,000 a month or more.
While Calix will serve 7 years in prison Sovereign will serve 4 to 5 years and Talbott will serve 3 to 5 years.
It is unclear what consequences the pharmacist and doctor will receive if any.
The doctor and pharmacist’s names were obscured by prosecutors but they did make the scheme possible.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
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.
Authorities investigate a fatal shooting in Manassas
Prince William County Authorities announced the investigation of a homicide that occurred Friday night in Manassas.
Twenty five year old Dalton Moore with no known fixed address was shot to death and another 25 year old man was wounded in the incident.
The two men were approached by a third man outside a convenience store on Sudley Manor Drive and Manor Drive.
After a brief encounter the man who approached the first two shot them.
Officers arrived shortly after the shooting and provided medical aid but were unable to save Moore.
The second victim was treated and then transported to the hospital and is expected to survive.
K-9 units were dispatched to find the shooter but were unsuccessful.
The investigation revealed that the shooter entered a light colored sedan after the shooting and fled.
The suspect is described as a heavyset Hispanic male with short dark hair and a beard.
He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black shorts.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Prince William County Police Department.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
VSP expand the investigation into an Officer involved shooting
The Virginia State Police (VSP) confirm by email that they have been asked by the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the fatal officer shooting of Sean McCormack of Strasburg.
The VSP have now confirmed that they have also been asked by the Woodstock Police Department Police Chief to investigate the incident.
McCormack was shot Mon. night July 25 after authorities attempted several times to get him to surrender peacefully but produced a weapon as he exited his home on Copp Road.
McCormack’s remains have been transported to the state Medical Examiner’s Office where an attempt to determined who fired the fatal shot will be made.
Officers from both Shenandoah County and Woodstock Police Department fired at McCormack.
As is standard procedure the Officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.
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.
Winchester man charged with buying a homicide weapon
A Winchester man has been arrested for making a purchase of a firearm that was used in a homicide.
A press release from the Department of Justice Western District of Virginia shows the man is charged with buying what’s known as a straw weapon.
Winchester resident 25 year old Gerald Kendrick Oxner apparently lied when he purchased a handgun from a Front Royal gun store in January 2021.
Oxner did not disclose that he was buying the weapon for a close relative.
Oxner also provided false information when making the purchase which carries a five year prison sentence if convicted.
The weapon Oxner purchased was later recovered in Maryland with an obliterated serial number.
Forensics research confirmed the weapon was linked to a January 25, 2021 shooting in Southeast Washington D.C..
The action of Oxner providing the weapon that was used in the homicide is referred to as a straw purchase.
That weapon was connected to a murder and the wounding of three others in that incident.
A relative of Oxner’s was arrested and charged with murder in that shooting.
Oxner has also been accused of making other straw purchases of a least one other firearm in Virginia.
At least one other straw purchased firearm was found in the possession of a felon in a separate shooting investigation.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
WPD announce a wanted fugitive has been apprehended
The Winchester Police Department (WPD) announced a wanted fugitive has been apprehended.
Chanz Doleman has been sought for his association with an incident that left a male victim with serious injuries.
Authorities have been searching for Doleman since March 20.
Doleman is being investigated by WPD for his involvement with the incident.
Doleman was apprehended in West Virginia on Wed. July 13 and faces charges of felony assault.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
MD. man arrested for trying to maim Fauquier K-9 officer
The Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Landover Maryland man on a number of charges.
Kevin Spriggs was arrested on Sat. July 16 by Fauquier County sheriff Deputies.
Spriggs is charged with possession of stolen goods, obstruction of justice, eluding, driving without a license, driving under the influence of drugs and attempt to maim a law enforcement animal.
Authorities were alerted to Spriggs driving a vehicle with matching license plate to an earlier carjacking in Stafford County.
After the initial traffic stop failed Spriggs was found a short time later parked along the road.
Spriggs refused to exit the vehicle until K-9 officer Bane was deployed to get him out.
After exiting Spriggs continued to resist and began choking Bane.
Finally Spriggs was taken into custody and transported to Fauquier Hospital for treatment.
Spriggs is also being charged by Stafford County Authorities with grand larceny.
Fauquier authorities confirm that K-9 Bane is okay thanks to quick action by deputies on the scene.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Maryland man arrested for indecent liberties with a child
PRESS RELEASE
On Saturday, July 2, 2022, Warren County Sheriff Patrol Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and identified the driver as a 23-year-old male, Kevon Fontaine Gregory Curtis, and a 14-year-old female passenger. Patrol Deputies determined that Curtis drove from Silver Spring, Maryland to pick up the juvenile. Curtis was charged on July 2nd with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and the juvenile was transported home.
Through further investigation the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) uncovered the elicit relationship that began through Instagram. Curtis and the juvenile female met in person on several occasions in Warren County during the months of April and July 2022 for the purpose of smoking marijuana and sexual intercourse.
Mr. Curtis was interviewed on July 10, 2022 and arrested on three charges of Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile. He was transported to Rappahannock Shenandoah Warren (RSW) Regional jail where he went before the magistrate and is currently being held without bond. The court date for these charges was set for August 18, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. in Warren County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office is an active member of the Northern Virginia/DC (NOVA/DC) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which is coordinated by the Virginia State Police. The Warren County CID encourages anyone having information regarding the solicitation or exploitation of any minor to contact the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with further information regarding this case is asked to please contact Investigator K.M. Hajduk at (540) 635-7100 or by e-mail at khajduk@warrencountysheriff.org
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.