Charlottesville man indicted following assault investigation

The Albemarle County Police Department announced the indictment of an individual following an investigation into a sexual assault on August 25th.

After further investigation Jahmal Edrine was indicted on the charges of Rape and Abduction by a grand jury.

Edrine was taken into custody on Thursday February 5th and he is being held without bond at the Albermarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.

This investigation is still ongoing.

Anyone with any further information that is relevant to this case is encouraged to contact the Albemarle County Police Department Criminal Investigations Division. 

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WVSP make arrest in 1998 sexual assault

West Virginia state seal. Used by written permission by Chief Deputy and Chief of Staff of West Virginia Chuck Flannery

A Martinsburg man, Kenneth Rickard Sr., has been convicted of sexual assault related to an incident from 1998.

Following a two-day jury trial in Berkeley County Circuit Court, the 62-year-old man was found guilty, providing closure to a case that had remained unsolved for years.

The conviction was made due to newly discovered DNA evidence.

In 2019, Captain Brendan Hall was notified by the West Virginia State Police forensic lab of a potential DNA match in the 1998 case.

The match pointed to Kenneth Rickard, a convicted offender.

Captain Hall then worked to locate both the victim and Rickard, interviewing Rickard about the assault.

Rickard denied any involvement in the crime.

A search warrant was issued for Rickard’s DNA, and with the original specimen confirmed the match, leading to the conviction.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Openings available for rape-defense course

The Page County Sheriff’s Office still has openings available for its rape aggression training program, which is set to start Monday.

The four-session course is designed to give women the skills and confidence needed to protect themselves against sexual assault.

Sessions are scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 13, May 16, May 20 and May 23 at Luray High School. Attendance is required for at least the first three sessions to complete the course.

The sheriff’s office will offer the course again in October.

Anyone interested should call 540-743-6571 or email jmckenzie@pagesheriff.com.

Governor Youngkin pardons Loudoun County parent, Scott Smith

Governor Glenn Youngkin granted an absolute pardon to Scott Smith.

The Loudoun County parent was originally arrested and prosecuted in 2021 following an incident at a Loudoun County School Board meeting after his daughter was sexually assaulted at school.

One of the original charges of resisting arrest was tossed out.

Smith was planning to appeal his disorderly conduct charge later this month but will no longer need to with the pardon.

Loudoun County Superintendent Scott Ziegler was fired in January of 2023 following an investigation by Attorney General Jason Miyraes into the cover up of the sexual assault.

The student who assaulted Smith’s daughter was convicted in 2021.

To read the Governor’s announcement and pardon, click here.

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Walk a Mile in Her Shoes through Old Town

The Laurel Center is hosting the annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault, and Gender Violence.

The event will begin at 11 am on the Old Town Walking Mall in Winchester near Water Street Kitchen.

Male participants will then walk a mile in high heels through downtown.

This march helps raise awareness in the community about the causes, effects, and remediation of sexual violence against women.

The men participating also help acknowledge how women are not the only ones affected by sexual violence.

No registration is required and donations are encouraged.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

VA. allocates funds for victims of crime

emergency funding for homeless

Gov. Notham announced that over $130 million will be allocated to support state and local criminal justice programs.

Over $85 million of the funds will support services for victims of crimes.

Specifically those funds will help support agencies that provide services for victims of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.