A divorcing father’s unilateral decision to use a marital investment account to pay for his adult son’s master’s program was properly considered waste of the marital assets, the Court of Appeals of Virginia has ruled. A Fairfax County circuit judge ...

Tagged with: Judge Bruce D. White Judge Glen A. Huff Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Judge Wesley G. Russell Jr. Virginia Court of Appeals News

An adoption plan for children who suffered significant abuse and neglect while living with their biological parents will not be disturbed, despite the father’s new employment and substance-free status. Background Appellant Daniel Ray Essenmacher shared two minor children with Tymatha ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations Family Law Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Parental Rights Virginia Court of Appeals

The statute under which the Commonwealth charged the appellant with reckless driving did not apply to his conduct of passing a traffic back-up via the road shoulder on his way to the highway exit. Background Appellant Victor Clay Barringer was ...

Tagged with: Criminal Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Traffic Virginia Court of Appeals

The court found sufficient evidence to support the termination of Appellant Tasheika Deshae Davis’s parental rights as to D., Davis’s minor daughter. Code § 16.1-283(C)(2) provides that, in addition to being in the best interests of the child, termination of ...

Tagged with: Family Law Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Parental Rights Virginia Court of Appeals

The court of appeals concluded that appellant Michael Anthony Edwards was tried for murder in the proper venue and that his conviction was supported by sufficient evidence. Edwards had been romantically involved with the victim, Leyla Namiranian, a Chesterfield resident. ...

Tagged with: Criminal Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Virginia Court of Appeals

Where the arresting officer initiated a valid traffic stop and observed factors consistent with drug use, he had probable cause to believe that the driver-appellant was in possession of narcotics and arrested him. The officer was then entitled to search ...

Tagged with: Criminal Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Virginia Court of Appeals

A man found guilty of murder in the disappearance of his former girlfriend had his conviction affirmed by the Court of Appeals of Virginia this month. The second-degree murder conviction of Michael Anthony Edwards was the first successful prosecution of ...

Tagged with: Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Virginia Court of Appeals

Higgins v. Pearce (VLW No. 017-7-284, 11 pp.) (Alston, J) Appealed from Henrico County Circuit Court (Harris, J.) Va. App. Unpub. Holding:  Appellant parent challenges the trial court’s award of custody and visitation, contending that the court committed constitutional and ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Virginia Court of Appeals

Four candidates – two lawyers and two federal judges – have received high marks from the Virginia State Bar in their applications for an Alexandria federal judgeship. The VSB and other statewide bar associations ranked as many as 15 candidates ...

Tagged with: Judge David J. Novak Judge Gerald Bruce Lee Judge Lawrence A. Leonard Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Virginia State Bar

Jones, S/K/A Jake Robert Jones v. Commonwealth (VLW No. 017-7-231-UP, 9 pp.) (Alston, J.) Record No. 0837-16-3. Appeal from the Circuit Court of Roanoke County (Swanson, J.) Holding: Where the plaintiff-appellant was convicted for misdemeanor interference with the property rights ...

Tagged with: Criminal Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Virginia Court of Appeals