Virginia Legislative Black Caucus condemns Youngkin's decision to commute sentence of former Fairfax County police sergeant
RICHMOND, Va. () — The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus released a statement condemning Gov. Glen Youngkin for commuting a former Fairfax County Police Department sergeant's sentence.
Sgt. Wesley Shifflett was sentenced on Friday, Feb. 28, to serve three years in prison for during a police pursuit. He was accused of shoplifting at Tyson's Corner Center.
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On Sunday, March 2, , stating that it was 'unjust.'
'I am convinced that the court's sentence of incarceration is unjust and violates the cornerstone of our justice system—that similarly situated individuals receive proportionate sentences. I want to emphasize that a jury acquitted Sgt. Shifflett of the more serious charge of involuntary manslaughter, a conviction for which the sentencing guidelines recommend no jail time or up to six months' incarceration,' Youngkin's statement read in part.
The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus said on Monday, March 3, that Youngkin's decision is 'reckless.'
Following Shifflett's conviction for the reckless handling of a firearm, Johnson's mother acknowledged 'that most Black and Brown families that find themselves in this situation do not get this far … Today's verdict has provided Mr. Shifflett a second chance-a benefit that my son, Timothy McCree Johnson, was not afforded.'
Members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus believe this pardon is reckless and a gross misuse of power that threatens public safety. We will not allow him to use the chaos his friends are causing in Washington as cover to evade consequences as he places a recently convicted, violent criminal back in our communities.
Virginia Legislative Black Caucus
FOR-IMMEDIATE-RELEASE_-The-Virginia-Legislative-Black-Caucus-Condemns-the-Governors-Commutation-of-Former-Officer-Wesley-Shiffletts-SentenceDownload
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that she found out about the commutation from media reports, and the governor's office had not reached out to her in advance of the announcement.
'It felt like I could hear my son's voice crying out from the dirt at Tysons Corner mall again, saying, 'Why did you shoot me? I didn't have anything.' That's what it felt like,' she said.
Shifflett's defense attorneys can still file appeals to have the conviction itself overturned.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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