Investigating Fairfax County prosecutor, Virginia Attorney General Miyares invites victims to share their experiences
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has initiated an official investigation into Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano, following a viral video of a child abduction attempt at Fair Oaks Mall. The Attorney General's office will scrutinise Descano’s handling of the case and other prosecution decisions, particularly his refusal to prosecute numerous charges against the suspect, Andres Caceres Jaldin, who has a lengthy criminal record.
The investigation, being conducted by the same attorneys who probed the parole board, has been prompted by the viral video and the growing concerns over Descano's performance as the county's top prosecutor. Governor Glenn Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears have publicly called for accountability and, in Sears’s case, a recall of Descano due to a pattern of controversial releases and failures to protect public safety.
The suspect, Caceres Jaldin, with over 30 prior charges including dropped malicious wounding cases handled by Descano’s office, is currently in custody without bond. His preliminary hearing on the child abduction charge is scheduled for October 20, 2025, while other hearings related to prior offenses are set for September. Descano’s office has been criticised for declining to prosecute multiple earlier offenses by Caceres Jaldin, fueling the political and legal scrutiny in this matter.
Miyares has expressed concern over Descano's approach to his role as a prosecutor, claiming it to be incompetent and leading to cases of sexual assault and violence being dismissed. He believes Descano views himself as a social worker, not a prosecutor, which he claims breaks down the criminal justice system.
In a separate development, Miyares has urged five Northern Virginia school districts to repeal their bathroom and locker room policies based on gender identity. He believes that allowing biological boys in women's locker rooms and sports teams has led to disastrous consequences in multiple school districts.
The Attorney General's office plans to interview victims and ensure the public is aware of the situation in Fairfax. As of mid-August 2025, no public statement from Descano’s office addressing the investigation has been released, but updates are expected as the probe progresses.
[1] ABC News. (2025). Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares Launches Investigation into Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano. [online] Available at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/virginia-attorney-general-jason-miyares-launches-investigation-fairfax/story?id=83039548
[2] Washington Post. (2025). Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares Calls for Investigation into Fairfax County's Top Prosecutor. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/virginia-attorney-general-jason-miyares-calls-for-investigation-into-fairfax-countys-top-prosecutor/2025/08/01/a30e9814-c10b-11ed-82b4-937170d88471_story.html
[3] NBC Washington. (2025). Fairfax County Man Accused of Child Abduction Has Long Criminal History. [online] Available at: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/fairfax-county-man-accused-of-child-abduction-has-long-criminal-history/3437895/
[4] Fox 5 DC. (2025). Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares Launches Investigation into Fairfax County's Top Prosecutor. [online] Available at: https://www.fox5dc.com/news/virginia-attorney-general-jason-miyares-launches-investigation-into-fairfax-countys-top-prosecutor
[5] CBS 6. (2025). Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares Investigating Fairfax County Prosecutor Steve Descano. [online] Available at: https://wtvr.com/news/local/virginia-attorney-general-jason-miyares-investigating-fairfax-county-prosecutor-steve-descano
- The investigation launched by Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares into Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano falls under the purview of policy-and-legislation, given its focus on Descano's handling of prosecution decisions and the role of a prosecutor within the criminal justice system.
- As the Fairfax County's top prosecutor's office faces scrutiny over controversial releases and failures to protect public safety, this issue has generated significant interest in general-news and crime-and-justice circles.
