Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office

12/21/2022

12/06/2022

11/09/2022

Please join us for LET'S TALK ABOUT IT! This criminal justice forum will be held on November 16, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. You can watch via Facebook live. https://www.facebook.com/OCACommunications/

10/31/2022

Join us for, Let’s talk about it! A Criminal Justice Forum hosted by Buta Biberaj, Loudoun County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney. The forum will be held on November 16, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. Panelist include Arthur Ago, Director of Criminal Justice, Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Clarissa Berry, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Madison County, VA and Hilary Shelton, National Advisor for Governance and Policy, NAACP. The panel will discuss, Trust in the Criminal Justice System, Accountability in the Criminal Justice System and Combatting Racial Discrimination and the Resulting Inequality of Opportunity It will be live streamed via Facebook (20+) Loudoun CA | Facebook. Email [email protected] for more information.

10/12/2022

Say Hello to the second cohort of our Justice Academy!

09/26/2022

09/11/2022

09/08/2022

09/05/2022

09/05/2022

08/08/2022

Justice Academy graduate Paula Callaghan

How did you hear about the academy?
Facebook advertising

Why did you sign up?
I did sign up because I like to learn more about the system and how it works. I participated in past listening trials just out of curiosity when I was mom at home.
I have never thought that we will have this opportunity as citizens and it was magnificent.

How has your experience been?
My experience was tremendously magnificent, substantial, solid and professional.

The staff was incredibly influential, very professional, excellent communicators with amazing power of knowledge.

Would you recommend the class and why?
I will recommend the class to people who advocate for the voices that can't be heard and for families that are vulnerable.

What will you do with the information that you learned?
I am start looking to get a paralegal certificate because I got motivated by extremely important professionals in the judicial system.

08/04/2022

Justice Academy Graduate Bella Shander

How did you hear about the academy?

I saw the opportunity on the county’s website.

Why did you sign up?

I have been interested in learning law especially from a diversity and inclusion standpoint as low income and minorities have higher rates of being incarcerated.

How has your experience been?

It’s been phenomenal! Buta and her highly skilled and educated team have been informative about the process. They allowed us to have open conversations about it. We even got to meet a judge and practiced our own mock trial!

Would you recommend the class and why?

150%!

I believe this should be a class provided to high schoolers to teach law prevention because a record after 18 years old still follows them when they become serious about life goals. I have a few people already interested and ready to sign up for the next class!

What will you do with the information that you learned?

I’ve gained confidence and poise from taking the Justice Academy class. I was actively in a personal case in the duration of class and represented myself. I was able to utilize the information and maximize my resources offered by the community. I hope to continue to share this knowledge to anyone I know who needs assistance. Great job to Buta Biberaj’s team for an awesome first launch of the Justice Academy!

08/03/2022

Justice Academy Graduate Rajesh Gooty

How did you hear about the academy?

Ms Buta had attended & Supported LAF Youth & Community Centric events, Proactively. And, we were actively engaged with her honorable offices, including referring young Interns periodically. And hence, Was able to sign up as this fresh initiate was announced publicly.

Why did you sign up?

The Justice Academy Leadership Initiative is a welcome addition to our arsenal to be better equipped to deal with Challenges, that are sudden, unforseen & seeking immediate attention.
They also say the difference between ordinary & extraordinary is that little extra. The course offered much more than that 'little extra'!!

How has your experience been?

A seasoned, diligent, qualified & professional Course that was administered effectively & managed Professionally. The corporate training environment to the course greatly enhanced my learning experience.
The location, the presentation & the interactions were ideally suited to bring out the best in both the Tutors & the subjects. I wish I could articulate this conspectus as a tribute to the true masterclass that Ms Buta, Ms Kendra Team assembled & delivered.

Would you recommend the class and why?
For anyone in the Local Community as a conscientious citizen, and/ or as influencers serving Loudoun County Constituents in any capacity, this is Vital to experience as it serves as an effective force multiplier gaming legal perspective to matters that need attention.
I would further urge, and especially recommend this learning experience to Faith Leaders & Organizational Leadership , who respond to large audiences in one go and usually turn into first responders to privately assist those affected & in personal problems.

What will you do with the information that you learned?
Our Motto of The Lead America Foundation has been driven by *Manava Seva, Madhava Seva.*
*Service to Humanity is Verily Serving Divinity.*

The community needs & Goals are paramount & this will empower the LAF Leadership to be better informed to focus on our values of Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. At LAF, with your support we will continue to commitment to humanitarian assistance, to save lives & alleviate suffering by ensuring that vulnerable and crisis-affected individuals receive assistance & protection.

Hence, with the Justice Academy Leadership Course one could better engage with confidence & knowledge to readily engage & help resolve community issues in a fair, just & amicable manner.

We do this by coordinating humanitarian policy and diplomacy, providing life-sustaining assistance, working with multilateral organizations to build local, national & global partnerships, and promoting best practices in humanitarian response.

Our assistance provides urgent, life-saving support, including food, shelter, safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene, emergency healthcare services, child protection programs, and education, among other related youth & wellness activities.

We sincerely thank you for your leadership, partnership, friendship & the gracious support.

08/02/2022

https://www.loudoun.gov/FormCenter/Commonwealths-Attorney-8/2022-Commonwealths-Attorney-Justice-Acad-332

Click the link to complete your application. Applications will be open until September 6, 2022!

06/20/2022

Celebrate Freedom!

06/19/2022

Happy Father's Day!

06/14/2022

She works for the people!

06/14/2022

'Stay in your lane': Loudoun Co. Commonwealth's Attorney Buta Biberaj to AG Jason Miyares

https://wjla.com/news/local/loudoun-county-buta-biberaj-commonwealths-attorney-response-jason-miyares-virginia-criminal-case-burglaries-kevin-valle-judge-james-plowman-crime-republican

We apologize. We had technical difficulties with our live stream. Please see the link below from ABC7

After a Loudoun County judge removed Commonwealth Attorney's Office from prosecuting a burglary case, Buta Biberaj held a press conference Tuesday calling out Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares directly for making cases like this political fodder. "This is a specific message to Attorney General...

06/14/2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 14, 2022
Contact: Media Relations
Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney
20 East Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20176-2809
[email protected]
(571)258-3330
Press Conference
Buta Biberaj, Loudoun County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney, will hold a press conference today at 3:00 p.m. at the Loudoun County Courthouse in Leesburg, Virginia.
The press conference is in response to Attorney General, Jason Miyares’ attempt to usurp the will of the Loudoun County voters in violation of the Virginia Constitution.
For additional information please call 571-258-3330.

05/30/2022

Let us never forget to always remember and to be worthy of the sacrifice the fallen has made for us.

Today we remember and honor

05/25/2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 25, 2022

Contact: Media Relations
Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney
20 East Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20176-2809
[email protected]
(571)258-3330

Thodos Attempted Capital Murder Trial is in the Hands of the Jury

Buta Biberaj, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Loudoun County, issued the statement in the Thodos felony trial. “We are so appreciative of our victims, Deputies Cameron Gentry and Charles Ewing, Walmart Asset Protection Associates, Jade Puloskie and Muhammad Amin, and Ronald Simoneau for being steadfast in this trial. Since January 1, 2021, this has been a long and traumatic period for them. From May 16 to May 24, 2022, jurors watched, listened, and evaluated the evidence that included over 20 witnesses, scores of documents, videos, and pictures. The jurors set aside their personal lives, responsibilities, and interests to serve our justice system. Our team, led by Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Shaniqua Clark Nelson and Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Michele Burton, in conjunction with our first-rate LCSO detectives dedicated hundreds of hours outside of court to prepare and present the best case they could to Judge Sincavage and the jury. I remain ever impressed by the jury process in Virginia. We are forever indebted to each of them.”

“Our gratefulness further extends to the yeoman efforts of our law enforcement partners, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police and the Fairfax Police Department,” said Biberaj.

Today, Judge Sincavage instructed the jury on the law, the attorneys made their closing arguments, and the case was given to the jury for deliberation. The jury’s responsibility is to determine if the evidence presented during the trial proves Thodos is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of attempted capital murder of law enforcement officers, Deputies Gentry and Ewing, aggravated malicious wounding of Dep. Gentry, malicious wounding of Puloskie and Amin, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony (4 counts), and grand larceny of the auto belonging to Simoneau. Upon the finding of guilt on any charge, the matter will be continued to a future date for a sentencing hearing before Judge Sincavage.

05/24/2022

Commonwealth’s Attorney
Loudoun County, Virginia
Buta Biberaj
Commonwealth’s Attorney

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 24, 2022

Contact: Media Relations
Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney
20 East Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20176-2809
[email protected]
(571)258-3330

Citizens of Algonkian District v. Atoosa Reaser
Citizens of Sterling District v. Brenda Sheridan
On May 23rd, 2022, the Honorable Thomas Padrick, Jr. (Ret’d, Virginia Beach Circuit Court) dismissed the petitions to remove Loudoun County School Board Chair Brenda Sheridan and Vice-Chair Atoosa Reaser.
On November 18, 2021, petitions drafted by Fight for Schools were filed requesting the Loudoun County Circuit Court to recall Algonkian District School Board members Atoosa Reaser and Brenda Sheridan. Upon filing of the petition, the Loudoun County Circuit Court issued a rule to show cause to each Ms. Reaser and Ms. Sheridan. Pursuant to the code section at issue, a circuit court may remove an elected office from office “for neglect of duty, misuse of office, or incompetence in the performance of duties [when the same] has a material adverse effect upon the conduct of the office.”
On January 5, 2022, Loudoun County Circuit Court Judge Jeanette Irby presided over several preliminary motions in the Sheridan case. Fight for Schools filed a Motion to Disqualify Buta Biberaj, Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney, on the basis of her membership in a Facebook group “Anti-Racist Parent of Loudoun County”, re-tweeting articles and letters to the editors mentioning Fight for Schools, and Biberaj being the target of efforts to recall her as the Commonwealth’s Attorney. After a full day of testimony, Judge Irby took the matters under advisement and a trial was set to begin March 21, 2022. A ruling on the Motion to Quash the petitions, Motions to Intervene and the Motion to Disqualify the Commonwealth’s Attorney was scheduled for February 23, 2022.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Biberaj objected to each of the Motions to Disqualify the Commonwealth’s Attorney filed in the Atoosa and Sheridan cases on the grounds that the allegations asserted by Fight for School were unsupported by fact less, thus unfounded. In an abundance of caution, Biberaj filed a Motion for the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor in the Reaser case. Biberaj represented that Reaser, as an active member of the Loudoun County Bar Association, participates in local bar activities alongside the Commonwealth’s Attorney and her assistants and is expected to continue doing so during and post the litigation of these matters. Thus, Biberaj requested that a special prosecutor be designated in the Reaser case to avoid an appearance of bias.
To date two groups, Fight for Schools and the Loudoun Chapter of the NAACP, filed motions to intervene in the litigation. On February 1, 2022, Judge Irby recused herself and then on February 14, 2022, the entire judiciary of the Loudoun County circuit court recused itself from these cases. The Supreme Court of Virginia designated the Honorable Judge Padrick (retired) to preside over these proceedings.
Judge Padrick granted Commonwealth Attorney Biberaj’s Motion for Special Prosecutor in the Sheridan case and appointed the Honorable Joseph Platania, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Charlottesville, Virginia.
On March 23, 2022, Judge Padrick heard the Motion to Disqualify as filed by Fight for Schools. Biberaj objected to the motion as Fight for Schools was not a party to the proceedings and did not have standing to make a motion or argue any matter before this court; thus, the court should not entertain the Motion to Disqualify the Commonwealth’s Attorney. Judge Padrick heard the arguments of the parties, the Commonwealth and Ms. Reaser and Ms. Sheridan, and the proposed intervenors, Fight for Schools and the Loudoun Chapter of the NAACP. Biberaj argued that the Virginia Rules of Court and the Virginia State Bar Rules of Ethics impose upon prosecutors certain duties, specifically that the Commonwealth’s Attorney is required to be impartial and seek justice, not convictions. That the parties and the facts of the case did not present a conflict that warranted recusal. Judge Padrick referenced that Judge Irby recused Biberaj in the Beth Barts case, not due to bias but based on the potential of appearance of a conflict. Further stating that since Mr. Platania was the special prosecutor in the Reaser case, it would be prudent to have him so appointed in the Sheridan case as the petitions cited the same allegations.
Fight for Schools and the NAACP argued their respective positions on their motions to intervene. Ms. Boyce, counsel for Ms. Reaser and Ms. Sheridan, and Mr. Platania argued that case law did not support the granting of the motion to intervene as the code provides for the Commonwealth’s Attorney to prosecute the case. Judge Padrick reviewed the statutes and case law and denied the Motions to Intervene. Thereafter, Ms. Boyce requested that the judge consider the Motions to Quash filed in each case and argued that the petitions were defective in that they lacked specificity of facts to allege a violation. Mr. Platania represented to the court the duties of a prosecutor are to seek justice, and to weigh the evidence in determining how to proceed. Mr. Platania motioned the court to dismiss the rules and reported that he reviewed the petitions and found them to be fatally defective – there were no facts alleged that could be the reasonable basis to establish neglect of duty, misuse of office, or incompetence in the performance of duties.”
Judge Padrick granted the motion to dismiss and terminated the cases.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Biberaj stated “we respect the decisions of the court and appreciate the time and dedication given to these matters by Judge Padrick. We hope that with the conclusion of these cases, our community can be given the opportunity to be united in its goals and values. We need to find ways to be less divisive. We hope that all of our elected officials are supported and encouraged to best serve our community.”

05/18/2022

Buta Biberaj, Loudoun County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney, is pleased to announce that the office will hold its inaugural “Office of the Commonwealth Attorney’s Justice Academy”, June 23-July 28, 2022, weekly on Thursdays from 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
This mission of the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Justice Academy is to create a partnership with the community through education and collaboration. The Justice Academy offers Loudoun County residents the opportunity to learn about the Justice System and the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office’s mission of Protection, Prevention, and Prosecution.
The participants should expect the following experiences:
Citizens will have an opportunity to learn about the law and processes related to arrests, criminal charges, and prosecution.
o The Commonwealth Attorneys will discuss the Office’s operations, the statutory mandates for the Office and the intersect between law enforcement and the Commonwealth’s Attorney.
o Citizens and the Commonwealth Attorneys will have an opportunity to discuss matters related to safety and justice.
Eligibility
Membership in the Justice Academy is open to 20 qualifying applicants. To be eligible for consideration, the applicant must be:
1. Over the age of twenty-one years.
2. Free of any active criminal or traffic charges.
3. Able to successfully pass a criminal background check.
4. Agree and sign a Waiver and Release.
5. Able to and agree to attend in-person all sessions of the program; and
6. A resident of Loudoun County.
Application Process
The Office of the Commonwealth Attorney’s Justice Academy is offered free of charge to attendees.
The Application is located at https://www.loudoun.gov/justiceacademy. Application process is open until Thursday, June 2, 2022, 11:59 p.m.

05/06/2022

Office of the
Commonwealth’s Attorney
Loudoun County, Virginia
Buta Biberaj
Commonwealth’s Attorney

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 6, 2022

Contact: Media Relations
Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney
20 East Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20176-2809
[email protected]
(571)258-3330

Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office
Honors Correctional Officers

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA – The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Loudoun County commemorates Correctional Officers’ Week. Governor Glenn Youngkin has proclaimed May 1 to May 7 to be Correctional Officers’ Week in Virginia.

Buta Biberaj, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Loudoun County, stated “we are grateful for the men and women who are our partners in safety and justice. Applying trauma informed practices and programs in the jails and prisons ultimately increases the safety for our communities. The balance of accountability and rehabilitation is always a challenge, but a worthy one because it promotes long-lasting public safety.”

Biberaj said, “Safety and Justice are our paramount responsibilities to Loudoun County. Our Correctional Officers are dedicated, resilient and the core of our success in keeping our communities safe.” The Virginia Department of Corrections encourages facilities to provide services and evidence-based practices to advance the concept of healing in its mission of helping people to do better. “When our Correctional Officers have the resources and training to provide the appropriate services to the incarcerated, this decreases recidivism, which in turn decreases crime, and results in less victimization of our community. Safely reducing our daily jail population is a win for our County. Daily incarceration costs in Loudoun County exceed $225.00. When we reallocate our resources so that we can return justice involved citizens back to the community better than when they entered, there can be greater stability. This is the best approach to protecting victims – preventing repeat offending. When a person convicted of a crime realizes we are invested in their success, they are then invested in the safety of our community. Every member of the Correctional Officers’ team is a hero in our battle for safety, and we thank them today, this week and every day for their service.”

05/05/2022

05/05/2022

04/27/2022

Please join us for this great event. It will be streamed live via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OCACommunications/

04/19/2022

Please RSVP [email protected] by Close of Business April 21, 2022.

04/15/2022

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA – The Loudoun County Sexual Assault Response Team (S.A.R.T.) is excited to announce Loudoun County is piloting its first ever Safe Bar Initiative. SART has partnered with Delirium Café and Loudoun Kitchen and Bar, two restaurants in Leesburg, who have trained staff to implement the “Ask for Angela” program. “Ask for Angela” is a nationwide program which offers discrete support to patrons who feel unsafe, intimidated, or threatened while dining in a restaurant or bar. Patrons can safely communicate fear or duress by directing certain phrases to staff. The trained staff is then able to take action to provide safety options, a safe environment and to deter the alarming behavior.

“We are excited to have the partnership and support of our local businesses and non-profit groups, as well as the Leesburg Police Department, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department, Purcellville Police Department, and the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to implement this first of its kind safety initiative here in the County” said Samantha Clarke, Interim CEO of LAWS Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services. This pilot program will begin in Leesburg on April 15, 2022 and run through the end of the month, at which time we plan to offer it to additional locations county-wide.

Buta Biberaj, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Loudoun County, said “Programs like ‘Ask for Angela’ are opportunities for our community to participate in the protection of others and in the prevention of criminal/unsafe behaviors. This is the primary way of preventing victimization. With all of our SART partners, the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney will continue to promote community engagement.” If you are interested in learning more about the SART or “Ask for Angela”, please contact our Loudoun County SART at 703-777-3855.