Mother Demands Ouster of Virginia Prosecutor After Daughter's Alleged Killer Had 30+ Prior Arrests

A Virginia mother is spearheading a movement to remove Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano, alleging that his policies contributed to the death of her daughter, who was allegedly killed by a man with more than 30 prior arrests. Cheryl Minter, mother of Stephanie Minter, 41, created a petition calling for Descano's removal following her daughter's stabbing death in February.

Stephanie Minter was found with multiple stab wounds at a bus stop in Hybla Valley. The accused assailant, Abdul Jalloh, 32, faces a second-degree murder charge in her death. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Jalloh, a national of Sierra Leone who entered the U.S. illegally in 2012, had a record including rape, malicious wounding, assault, and theft. He has not yet been convicted in Stephanie Minter's death.

"Thirty times the system had a chance to stop him. Thirty times," Cheryl Minter wrote in her petition, expressing her shock and grief over Jalloh's extensive criminal history and subsequent release. "I think about that every single day."

Cheryl Minter specifically pointed to Descano's 2020 plea bargaining policy, which directed prosecutors to consider immigration consequences. While a webpage detailing this policy is no longer publicly available, Minter argues that prosecutors should prioritize public safety. Descano has defended his policies as fair and legal, stating they reflect community values.

Federal Scrutiny and Congressional Investigation

The policies of Descano's office are under federal review. In May, the Justice Department announced an investigation into whether his office provides preferential treatment to defendants in the country illegally, affecting charging decisions and plea deals. The department has stated it has reached no conclusions regarding these allegations.

Separately, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, subpoenaed Descano on September 16 as part of a congressional investigation into similar concerns about prosecutors potentially giving preferential treatment based on immigration status. Jordan's committee had previously accused Descano's office of not fully complying with earlier document requests, setting a September 25 deadline. Descano's office characterized the subpoena as a "needless escalation" and a "partisan siege," asserting they had provided over 1,100 pages of documents and that Descano had testified voluntarily.

Ongoing Prosecution and Victim's Advocacy

Descano's office is prosecuting Jalloh for Stephanie Minter's murder, with a trial scheduled for January 2027. Officials stated they cannot comment further on the pending case.

ICE had lodged a detainer against Jalloh after his arrest in February, requesting notification before his release. DHS records indicate a previous detainer was placed on him in 2020, and an immigration judge had ordered him removed to a country other than Sierra Leone.

Cheryl Minter acknowledged the cooperation of Descano's office's employees in her daughter's case but reiterated that her criticism targets the decisions she believes allowed a repeat offender to remain at large. Her petition, launched with assistance from the Victims' Rights Reform Council, aims to bring scrutiny to these practices in Fairfax County and beyond, with her ultimate goal being Descano's removal from office. "Stephanie cannot speak for herself anymore. So I am," Minter stated in her petition.