1:00PM
Norfolk, VA
Council Members Present
Officers:
Anton A. Bell (Hampton), Chairman
Bryan L. Porter (Alexandria), First Vice Chairman
Julia H. Sichol (Westmoreland County), Second Vice Chairman
R. Bryan Haskins (Pittsylvania County), Secretary
Shannon L. Taylor (Henrico County), Past Chairman
Council District Representatives:
1. Krystyn L. Reid (York County)
2. Matthew R. Hamel (Chesapeake)
6. David L. Ledbetter (Waynesboro)
7. Elizabeth K. Humphries (Fredericksburg)
8. Bryan L. Porter (Alexandria)
9. Robert M. Lilly (Giles County)
Other Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Present
Donald S. Caldwell (Roanoke City)
Patricia T. Watson (Greensville County/Emporia)
Colin D. Stolle (Virginia Beach)
Meredith D. Adkins (King & Queen County)
Jane Wrightson (Northumberland County)
Ramin Fatehi (Norfolk)
Derek A. Davis (Surry County)
Regina T. Sykes (Sussex County)
Megan L. Clark (Prince Edward County)
Heather D. Hovermale (Winchester)
Parisa Dehghani-Tafti (Arlington County/Falls Church)
Christian E. Rehak (Radford)
Amy K. Ashworth (Prince William County)
Scott C. Hook (Fauquier County)
Nate Green (James City County/Williamsburg)
Eric Branscom (Floyd County)
Alfred Collins (Colonial Heights)
Keri Gusmann (King George County)
Andrew Nester (Henry County)
Russ Rabb (Culpeper County)
Jared Moon (Rockbridge County)
J. Spencer Morgan (Accomack County)
Leanne Watrous (Nottoway County)
Rhonda Alexander (Lunenburg County)
Amanda Mann (Dinwiddie County)
Tracy Q. Martin (Halifax County)
Marie Walls (Matthews County)
Dayna Bobbitt (Patrick County)
Elizabeth Cooper (Shenandoah County)
Cooper Brown (Franklin County)
Guests
Hon. Jessica Aber, EDVA
Hon. Christopher Kavanaugh, WDVA
Linda Jackson, DFS
Amy Jenkins, DFS
Kristen Howard, Crime Commission
Megan Pauley, VPM
Deputy & Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Present
Melanie Menefee (Tazewell County)
Mike Huberman (Henrico County)
Kristen Zalenski (Shenandoah County)
Ryan Moran-Asalone (Giles County)
CASC Staff Present
Jane Sherman Chambers
Nancy Oglesby
VACA Staff Present
Amanda Howie, Administrator
Call to Order
Mr. Bell called the meeting to order at 1:08 PM.
Minutes
The draft minutes from the February 13, 2024, meeting were previously posted and circulated to Council. The minutes were approved as submitted.
Chairman’s Report
Mr. Bell welcomed everyone to the CASC 2024 Spring Institute and asked meeting attendees to introduce themselves.
Administrator’s Report
Ms. Chambers thanked local offices for sharing their office staff with CASC to help with Spring Institute registration. It was very much appreciated!
Old Business
CATF Update
Ms. Chambers circulated with the meeting agenda the CATF balance sheet reflecting account activity through February 29, 2024.
2024 Spring Institute Update
Ms. Chambers reported that as of Thursday, April 11, 2024, 715 people had registered to attend Spring Institute in person, while 241 registered to attend the limited simulcast. The VSB awarded 18 hours of MCLE credit, with 3.5 in live ethics and 2.0 in ethics on the limited simulcast. This year’s program includes 39 volunteer faculty members for whom CASC is extremely grateful. This year’s program also includes a first-time leadership training for deputy-level assistants. Ms. Chambers reminded attendees that the Prosecution Project students will give their presentations on Tuesday afternoon and it has been approved for 1.5 hours of Ethics.
CASC Finance Committee Meeting
Ms. Chambers announced that the CASC Finance Committee will meet to approve the FY25 budget on June 26, 2024 after the Council & Board meetings. The committee includes all officers, along with Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Wright and Mr. Haislip, Chairman.
New Business
Greetings from Virginia’s U.S. Attorneys
Mr. Bell welcomed the Honorable Jessica Aber, EDVA, and the Honorable Christopher Kavanaugh, WDVA. Ms. Aber and Mr. Kavanaugh provided a 20-minute presentation detailing their office operations and how they can be of assistance to Virginia’s prosecutors. They encouraged Commonwealth’s Attorneys to consider partnering with them on appropriate cases.
DFS & Crime Commission Update on Mary Jane Burton Case Review
Mr. Bell welcomed Ms. Jackson and Ms. Jenkins from DFS and Ms. Howard from the Crime Commission. Ms. Jackson announced a new program to help compensate former DFS employees when they are subpoenaed to testify. She reported on the efforts that DFS and the Scientific Advisory Committee are making to address the issues raised in the VPM podcast about the Mary Jane Burton situation. Ms. Curtis requested CA cooperation in attempting to determine conviction and incarceration status of identified individuals. Ms. Howard circulated and reviewed a handout entitled Proposed Mary Jane Burton Case File Review Work Plan, which included the specific budget language that will support the project.
Adjournment
There being no further business before Council, the meeting adjourned at 2:05 PM. The next regularly scheduled meeting is May 8, 2024, 12:00 noon, at the CASC offices at Truist Place (formerly SunTrust Building), 919 E. Main Street, Suite 1250, Richmond.