by Dick Hall-Sizemore
In a recent article on this blog, Jim Bacon cited the case of Ronald Thomas as a possible harbinger of a “descent into anarchy.” One commenter cited 13 prior charges, many of which were “nol prossed”.
Just looking at a list of charges and their results can be misleading. It is necessary to look at the context. It is common for law enforcement to charge a defendant with several separate offenses connected with the same incident. It is also common, during the process, for prosecutors to reduce some of these charges and recommend an adjudication of nolle prosequi (“nol pros”) if the defendant pleads guilty to one or more charges.
A summary of the appearances of Thomas in Fairfax County and Arlington County district courts is set out below. It is apparent that Thomas has been a busy man lately. It is also obvious that he is an example of a long-time bane of law enforcement, sheriffs, and courts—a nonviolent offender who is in and out of jail frequently. These are often referred to as “frequent flyers”. Continue reading