Latest news with #Fatehi
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Candidates for Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney face off in forum
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The two Democratic candidates for Norfolk's Commonwealth Attorney, incumbent Ramin Fatehi and challenger John Butler, faced off in a forum Tuesday night. Democratic Commonwealth's Attorney candidates debate in Norfolk It was hosted by the Norfolk Branch NAACP, Let's Make A Difference and Citizens for Justice and was held at First United Presbyterian Church. After meeting with residents one-on-one, a flip of a coin decided which candidate would start the forum. Both candidates started with sharing more about their backgrounds. Butler, a former federal prosecutor with an endorsement from Mayor Kenny Alexander, Sheriff Joe Baron and other city officials, went first. 'I believe that it's imperative that your Commonwealth Attorney deliver justice to victims by holding violent criminals accountable for the crimes they commit,' Butler said. Fatehi was next. He's been the Commonwealth's Attorney in Norfolk since 2022 and says crime rates and incarceration rates in the city are down. He aims to keep it that way if re-elected. 'Violent crime down 40%, homicide down 42%, property crime down 27%, the population of the Norfolk City Jail down by half, and with one exception, no children to adult prison,' Fatehi said. Community members gathered to hear about a range of topics by each candidate, including criminal justice reform, transparency and gun violence. Butler said safety and competence is why he's in this race, because he believes people don't feel safe in the city right now. 'Right now the current Commonwealth Attorney's office is now delivering justice to victims,' Butler said. 'They're losing far too many cases. They've had huge turnover and there's poor leadership there. There's not somebody who can work with the community.' While things did get heated between the two, both focused on sharing what differences they wanted to make if they were to take on the position. 'I ask you to stand not just with me — it ain't about me — it's about the message,' Fatehi said. 'Make sure that we don't make the mistakes of 30 years ago, when the hurricane comes back. The lives of our brothers, our sisters, our children, depend on it. I ask for your support.' Butler said: 'I'm asking you to look at my track record, my values, my success in the military and my success in delivering prevention and intervention programs and my vision for a safe Norfolk.' The primary election will take place June 17 while the General Election takes place Nov. 4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Nora Fatehi Is Making Our Hearts Skip A Beat With Her Risque Fit At The AMAs
Trust Nora Fatehi to make an impression every time she graces the red carpet. On Tuesday, the actress attended the prestigious musical event - the American Music Awards (AMAs), hosted by Jennifer Lopez in Las Vegas. Nora Fatehi picked out a custom Tom Ford midi dress that had sparkle written all over it. The animal-printed number featured a dramatic halter neckline that plunged into a fitted bustier. A risqué middle cut-out gave a bold spin to the outfit but she pulled off the daring silhouette with sheer confidence and grace. The body-grazing ensemble cascaded in length, forming a floor-sweeping train. Cinched at the waist, the designer attire helped Fatehi to showcase her enviable frame. Subtle pleated ruffles drooping from the sides added an extra dose of oomph. As if the edgy flair of the Tom Ford masterpiece was not enough, the dress came with multiple sequins and mirrorwork - an apt choice for the starry event. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MTV (@mtv) With her outfit taking center stage, The Royals actress kept it simple in terms of accessories. She opted for a pair of shiny diamond danglers and some statement rings. Yes, that was all about it - no heavy necklaces, no stacked bracelets and no over-the-top embellishments. Her makeup was a super-glamorous affair. Fatehi went with a matte base and dabbed just the right amount of blush and contour on the high points of her cheeks. Peach-tinted lips offered a pop of colour to her flawless radiance. She skipped wearing any kohl, but defined her eyes with the perfect stroke of winged eyeliner and mascara-coated lashes. Shimmery eyeshadow and well-arched eyebrows suited the overall aesthetics, sealing her beauty game. For the final touch of elegance, Fatehi left her wavy tresses open as they framed her face beautifully.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Norfolk attorneys in turf war over authority to prosecute shoplifting cases
A feud between Norfolk's city attorney and the city's top prosecutor over whose office should handle misdemeanor shoplifting cases has quickly escalated into a political turf war with both sides claiming chief authority. The Norfolk City Council unanimously approved a code change Tuesday that will let the City Attorney's Office prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting cases after Mayor Kenny Alexander complained Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi wasn't bringing charges. Fatehi issued a swift rebuke the next day, saying he would revoke the city attorney's authority to prosecute any misdemeanors in Circuit Court and would implement additional oversight of charges pursued in District Court. He painted the move as power grab by city lawmakers that would disproportionately be used to target poor people. But Norfolk City Attorney Bernard Pishko is now arguing Fatehi lacks the legal power to forbid his office from prosecuting misdemeanor shoplifting cases in Circuit Court. 'You lack the resources to attend to many of the issues our citizens face on a daily basis, and your prosecutors could not replicate the relationship we have with our code enforcement officers,' Pishko wrote in a letter sent Thursday. Under Virginia law, commonwealth's attorneys — elected constitutional officers — must prosecute all felonies in their jurisdictions. But prosecutors have discretion on misdemeanor crimes, and Fatehi says the state does not provide funding for attorneys to handle misdemeanor case loads. Virginia state code says city attorney's offices in the commonwealth can prosecute misdemeanor cases, so long as the city council wants them to and the elected commonwealth's attorney signs off on it. The Code of Virginia section reads: 'City and town attorneys, if so authorized by their local governing bodies, and with the concurrence of the attorney for the commonwealth for the locality, may prosecute criminal cases charging either the violation of city or town ordinances, or the commission of misdemeanors within the city or town.' Fatehi said under that law, his office has the authority to permit the city attorney's office to prosecute state and city misdemeanors. As of 5 p.m. Friday, he said he will revoke the city attorney's permission to prosecute any offenses punishable by jail or fine in Circuit Court. Further, he plans to scrutinize all cases the city attorney's office pursues in District Court, requiring them to provide monthly reports about all criminal cases they staff. However, Pishko said in his letter city code directs the city attorney to prosecute all city code violations, and the Code of Virginia says municipal corporations shall have all powers granted to it by its charter. Thus, Pishko said Fatehi's referenced state code section was superseded by another state code section. The matter could see the two attorneys duke it out in court. In his letter, Pishko asked Fatehi to rescind his decision and said doing so would eliminate the need for a seeking a declaratory judgement. Fatehi said the two parties met in person Thursday but were unable to reach an agreement. 'I remain ready to have a serious discussion on how to avoid the criminalization of poverty, but until I see a meaningful change in the position of the City Attorney or his employer, my letter stands,' Fatehi said in an email. Norfolk prosecutor revokes city attorney authority on shoplifting charges following council vote Norfolk to vote on allowing city attorney to prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting Norfolk commonwealth's attorney faces challenge from former federal prosecutor Amanda Howie, administrator for the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys, said she could not recall a top prosecutor in another Virginia locality ever attempting to forbid a city or county attorney from prosecuting cases. She did not know whether Fatehi's moves were legal. The feud kicked off when Alexander announced a plan for the City Attorney's Office to begin prosecuting misdemeanor shoplifting cases at his annual State of the City event. Fatehi said he lacked the state or city funding to staff the prosecution of misdemeanor shoplifting cases, and the city has ignored requests for more funding. He also called the move politically motivated — Fatehi is facing a June 17 Democratic primary challenge by John Butler, a former federal prosecutor. Butler has been endorsed by Alexander and City Council members Jeremy McGee, Tommy Smigiel and Courtney Doyle. Most prosecutor's offices in Hampton Roads take at least on some misdemeanor cases, such as DUIs, some domestic assaults and cases involving violence in schools. For many other misdemeanors, police officers organize the case against the defendants, just as they do with traffic cases. Though the officers are considered witnesses rather than prosecutors, they must essentially prosecute their own cases without a lawyer. It's a common practice when prosecutors are not available for whatever reason, said Rob Poggenklass, the executive director of Justice Forward Virginia, a state criminal justice reform group. In Norfolk, for example, the Norfolk Police Department can — and does — still make arrests in misdemeanor shoplifting cases, but must handle the cases on its own. When prosecutors in Hampton and Newport News backed away from handling misdemeanor marijuana possession cases in 2012, police began handling the cases on their own. But because drug possession could be difficult to prosecute, police were having difficulties handling such cases. The Hampton City Council in 2014 created a position within the City Attorney's Office to take on the marijuana cases, the Daily Press reported at the time. In 2016, the Newport News City Council granted their Commonwealth's Attorney two new positions in return for agreeing to prosecute the misdemeanor marijuana cases once again. Several Norfolk residents who spoke at the council's Tuesday meeting expressed concern the move to pursue more misdemeanor shoplifting charges would harm the city's most vulnerable people. Poggenklass said more prosecutions would only hurt marginalized Norfolk residents and would not deter the act of stealing. He said city officials should instead be investigating why residents are stealing and providing structural supports to eliminate the need for the crime. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, Peter Dujardin, 757-897-2062, pdujardin@
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After council's vote, Fatehi revokes city attorney authority to prosecute shoplifting charges
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — While Norfolk City Council made good on Mayor Kenny Alexander's pledge during his State of the City address to allow the city attorney to prosecute shoplifting cases, Commonwealth's Attorney quickly nixed the plan, revoking the city attorney's authority to do so. R-03-Amend-Norfolk-City-Code-Section-25Download Fatehi sent a letter to City Attorney Bernard Pishko Wednesday saying he planned to revoke Pishko's ability to prosecute criminal cases in Norfolk Circuit Court as of 5 p.m. Friday, and put into place added oversight of General District Court charges being pursued there. Following the Funds: Butler raises record amount in race to unseat Fatehi in Norfolk Fatehi noted larceny cases in the city are down 17% over the first three months of 2025 compared to the same period a year ago, when they hit a five-year high. He said the city's new ordinance 'mirrors the state offense of concealment of merchandise.' He also said that while shoplifting statewide increased 35% from 2019-2023, it increased just 16% in the city over the same time period. 'These facts lead me to an unfortunate conclusion: That the recent sequence of events is the product of faulty reasoning, political posturing, or special-interest pressure,' Fatehi said. 'I further conclude that the public is understandably left concerned that the mayor and his allies on Council wish to control the criminal-prosecution process through the City Attorney's office because the City Attorney is their employee and serves at their pleasure. We have seen the politicization of prosecution at the federal level; I cannot countenance that happening in Norfolk.' During his recent State of the City address, Alexander said that, 'in Norfolk, we intend to support businesses impacted by shoplifting by passing an ordinance that enables the city to prosecute shoplifting.' Norfolk mayor seeks city role in holding shoplifters accountable Alexander made that statement with Fatehi sitting front and center. 'Enforcing this crime under city code will allow Norfolk to take action where the Commonwealth has not,' Alexander said. And that was the plan when City Council approved the ordinance, which would have allowed the city attorney's office to prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting cases — ones in which the value of the theft is less than $1,000. Fatehi's office currently prosecutes all felony shoplifting cases, and it can choose whether to prosecute misdemeanor crimes. That's something Fatehi has said he doesn't have the resources to do, and he accused the mayor and council of not providing those resources to his office. 'If the mayor and council are truly concerned about the handling of misdemeanor shoplifting, they could do as Hampton has done and provide sufficient funding to their Commonwealth's Attorney to have a prosecutor in General District Court on those cases,' Fatehi said. 'I would note that, due to insufficient funding from their cities, the Commonwealth's Attorneys of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth and Newport News do not staff misdemeanor shoplifting cases in General District Court or any of a number of other, more serious misdemeanor crimes.' Fatehi also said any attempts by the city attorney's office to try cases with existing staff and use fines from cases to pay for added prosecution costs 'are a relic of mass incarceration, exacerbate the criminalization of poverty and throw poor people into debt traps, making them more likely to steal again, not less.' The current Commonwealth's Attorney is being challenged in the upcoming Democratic primary by , a former federal prosecutor who Alexander has endorsed. In a recent debate, Butler brought up Fatehi's opposition to a lower felony larceny threshold. 'My opponent, he has a different philosophy on things,' Butler said. 'The General Assembly has put the felony larceny level at $1,000, and my opponent has said he's not going to charge people unless its over $2,500.' During the council meeting, Superward 7 councilmember Carlos Clanton said he supported the ordinance, recognizing the importance of addressing retail theft and supporting small businesses in the community. 'This ordinance provides Norfolk with a localized tool to deter and address shoplifting while ensuring that our city can manage these offenses with discretion and proportionality,' Clanton said. 'However, I remain committed to ensuring that our enforcement approach is fair and does not criminalize poverty or disproportionally impact youth and marginalized communities. I support the ordinance with the understanding that we will also explore diversion options, community service alternatives and restorative justice practices.' Ward 2 councilwoman Courtney Doyle cited Police Chief Mark Talbot in stating a 6% rise in larcenies in 2024 versus 2023. Larcenies by auto were down 23%, but all other larcenies were up 30%, which she said he attributed to thefts at ABC stores. Ward 5 councilman Tommy Smigiel said the city is reaching a point where some retailers are saying the theft-loss ratios are so big they cannot justify staying at their locations. 'The reality is the data, the information that we receive, and the people that we talk to, our civic leagues and the business owners are telling us what a big problem this is,' Smigiel said. 'So when you have a bike shop owner in Ocean View who just had a group of people … just walk in and steal bikes and walk right out with it, and they're not prosecuted, the bottom line for that small bike shop is killed right there.' Read Fatehi's letter to City Attorney Bernard Pishko below: Dear Mr. Pishko: Last night the Mayor and Council created a City of Norfolk ordinance that mirrors the state offense of concealment of merchandise. I have great concerns about implementation of this ordinance and its impact on poor people. First, I would note that Virginia already criminalizes this behavior under Virginia Code § 18.2‑103 in nearly identical form. As the Commonwealth's Attorney, I have always said that people must be held accountable for their crimes, whether violent or not, and that businesses who take appropriate measures to guard against shoplifting should be able to rely on the police and prosecutors to hold accountable people who steal. Second, the facts demonstrate that shoplifting is not a bigger problem in Norfolk than it is in Virginia at large. According to data from the Norfolk Police and the Virginia State Police, while shoplifting in Virginia increased 35% statewide from 2019-2023, shoplifting in Norfolk increased only 16% over that time. Fluctuations in the rate of shoplifting in Norfolk are essentially tracking the rate of shoplifting across the Commonwealth, if not doing better. Shoplifting in Norfolk and in Virginia increased in 2023, but Norfolk Police Department data shows that shoplifting offenses in Norfolk are down 17% in the first quarter of this year compared to the first quarter of last year. If current trends continue, shoplifting in Norfolk will come in lower in 2025 than in 2019. The discussion of the ordinance did not include these numbers. Third, I staff and appropriately prosecute all felony shoplifting cases, seeking felony convictions in some and measured reductions to misdemeanors — which carry penalties of up to 12 months in jail — in others according to the facts of each case, victim, and accused. Last night's city ordinance concerns itself only with misdemeanors, i.e. thefts of under $1,000. If the Mayor and Council are truly concerned about the handling of misdemeanor shoplifting, they could do as Hampton has done and provide sufficient funding to their Commonwealth's Attorney to have a prosecutor in General District Court on those cases. I would note that, due to insufficient funding from their Cities, the Commonwealth's Attorneys of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News do not staff misdemeanor shoplifting cases in General District Court or any of a number of other, more serious misdemeanor crimes. In those cases and in those cities, shopkeepers, victims, and officers must present their cases without a prosecutor and hope for the best. I have spent years pointing out that Norfolk, like the other Seven Cities, has done 'criminal justice on the cheap.' To address this issue at the state level, I was one of the lead advocates for the Virginia Access to Justice Act in the last General Assembly session, which would have funded multiple additional lawyers in my office and permitted me to staff all misdemeanor cases. I asked the City of Norfolk for assistance in lobbying for this effort, but they elected not to do so. Now, rather than provide adequate funding for my office, Council has passed an ordinance that duplicates existing state law with the specific purpose of having your office prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting. I note that, according to your statement to the Virginian-Pilot, you intend to offset the additional cost of staffing misdemeanor shoplifting cases by fining the accused and by collecting an increased share of court costs courtesy of using a city ordinance over a state statute. Fines and mandatory court costs are a relic of mass incarceration, exacerbate the criminalization of poverty, and throw poor people into debt traps, making them more likely to steal again, not less. I would further note with disappointment that the Mayor has not discussed his concerns with me regarding shoplifting or any other policy or substantive matter within my authority. In fact, since I took office, the Mayor and I have had only one substantive meeting, which took place in the late summer of 2022, and then only at my insistence. As duly-elected representatives of our citizens, our citizens expect us to work together, I would hope that we could do better; I stand ready to have a dialogue with the Mayor and always have. These facts lead me to an unfortunate conclusion: That the recent sequence of events is the product of faulty reasoning, political posturing, or special-interest pressure. I further conclude that the public is understandably left concerned that the Mayor and his allies on Council wish to control the criminal-prosecution process through the City Attorney's Office because the City Attorney is their employee and serves at their pleasure. We have seen the politicization of prosecution at the federal level; I cannot countenance that happening in Norfolk. As the elected Commonwealth's Attorney and the Chief Minister of Justice for Norfolk, I have an independent duty to the citizens of our city to ensure one system of justice for all and to avoid the failed policies of the past, and the General Assembly has vested me with certain powers to do so. Under Virginia Code § 15.2-1627, I have the duty to staff all felony offenses and the discretion to staff any other criminal offense that carries a fine of $500 or more or the possibility of jail time. While I wish to staff all misdemeanors, I am not able. Were the Council to provide me with the necessary funding and prosecutors, I would gladly do so, including for misdemeanor assaults, vandalism, larcenies from automobiles, destruction of property, reckless driving, and shoplifting. Virginia Code § 15.2-1542 grants me the authority to permit your office to prosecute state and city misdemeanors. That Code section requires my permission because I am the people's duly elected prosecutor and should therefore exercise oversight over others who receive the power to make people convicted criminals. My predecessors have for many years given your office permission to prosecute state and city misdemeanors at your discretion, and, at your request and in a spirit of cooperation, I gave you my permission to do so in turn, both in Circuit Court and in General District Court. Pursuant to the authority the General Assembly has vested in me as Commonwealth's Attorney under Virginia Code §§ 15.2‑1627 and 15.2-1542, I revoke, effective at 5:00 on Friday, May 16, 2025, the permission I have previously granted to you to prosecute in Circuit Court all offenses punishable by jail or fine, including violations of the Virginia Code and city ordinances. Please forward me a list of all cases, discovery materials, and other relevant information so that my office may handle these cases going forward. In General District Court, I have no choice but to scrutinize your office's work on misdemeanor shoplifting cases and will be looking more closely at your prosecutions in other areas to ensure that they are consistent with the values of our citizens. As a condition of your continued privilege to prosecute state code and city ordinance cases in the General District Court under Virginia Code §§ 15.2-1627 and 15.2-1542, you will send reports to my office on the first business day of each month of the criminal cases you have chosen to staff, the disposition of any cases concluded or discontinued, and certifications that you have complied with your obligations under Brady v. Maryland and Giglio v. United States and the Virginia Crime Victim and Witness Rights Act. Should a citizen feel as if they did not receive fair justice in General District Court, they have the right to appeal under Virginia Code § 16.1-132, and I will staff the prosecution of that appeal in Circuit Court and determine independently whether justice was done in the court below. I regret that I must take these steps, as we all have more important matters on which to focus, such as violent crime and the continued assault by the Trump administration on civil liberties, the social safety net, victim services, and crime-prevention measures. That said, the public trust leaves me no choice but to take action. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Norfolk City Council directs city attorney to pursue misdemeanor shoplifting crimes
Norfolk City Council members unanimously approved a code change that will let the City Attorney's Office prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting cases, despite objections from some residents. City Council members said during Tuesday's meeting the code change would help prosecute organized shoplifters damaging Norfolk small businesses. 'This gives us more opportunity to have insight and say-so,' said council member John 'JP' Paige. The code change would allow the City Attorney's Office to prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting crimes. Currently, the Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney's office prosecutes every felony shoplifting case, and the office has the discretion to decide whether to prosecute misdemeanor crimes. However, Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi said his office does not have enough state or city funding to staff misdemeanor cases. Several residents spoke against the code change during Tuesday's meeting, saying it could disproportionately harm the city's most vulnerable citizens. Portsmouth approves $878M budget, along with new tax rate and more school funding Virginia Beach approves $2.8 billion operating budget with boost to public safety Norfolk council adopts $1.6 billion budget, includes 2-hour free parking Norfolk to vote on allowing city attorney to prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting Hampton adjusts budget to cover vetoed gun violence prevention funds Sharon Houston said the measure would hurt families living in poverty. 'The rich will get richer,' Houston said. 'The poor will get poorer.' Council member Mamie Johnson also said the city would continue to help low-income residents access city programs and other wraparound services so they wouldn't feel the need to shoplift items like groceries. The threshold for felony larceny has been raised in recent years from $200and now stands at $1,000 or more in stolen goods. The felony charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500, according to the Code of Virginia. The misdemeanor charge would apply to stolen goods with a value of less than $1,000 and would be punishable by up to a year in prison and up to a $2,500 fine. The issue became a point of contention between Fatehi and Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander, when Alexander announced the code change plans at his annual State of the City address in April. Alexander claimed Fatehi's office was not doing enough to prosecute what he described as well-organized, planned-out thefts. Fatehi is facing a June 17 Democratic primary challenge by John Butler, a former federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Norfolk. Butler has been endorsed by Alexander and City Council members Jeremy McGee, Tommy Smigiel and Courtney Doyle. Norfolk City Attorney Bernard Pishko told the Pilot his office would try the cases with existing staff and that fines from the cases would pay for the additional costs incurred by the prosecutions. There is no minimum dollar amount that can be charged as a misdemeanor under the new code. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345,
