Spanberger's parole board freed 14 in August: four killers, eight sex offenders, two drug dealers

In a single month, the parole board appointed by Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger approved the release of 14 people, among them four convicted in killings, eight convicted of sexual offenses and five serving at least one life sentence, according to the board's own August 2026 decisions report.

The board decided 44 parole cases in August and granted 14 of them, about 32%. Nearly all of the grants came out of one meeting on Aug. 27, according to the meeting's minutes.

The jump is stark. A Washington Examiner analysis published Oct. 7 found that Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's parole board approved 1.23% of parole requests in all of 2025, granting 32, while Spanberger's board, installed in mid-March, posted a 13.89% release rate in roughly half of 2026, with 38 grants, which the Examiner described as more than 10 times Youngkin's rate. A separate WJLA 7News analysis of every decision since Spanberger's board first met in May counted 48 grants in 205 discretionary and geriatric parole cases, about 23.4%, or "almost one in four," compared with fewer than two in 100 under Youngkin's board. Bolts magazine, analyzing monthly decisions, put Youngkin's board at about 2% from January 2022 through September 2023 and 1.6% for 2023. The analyses cover different periods and case counts, which is why the 2026 figures differ; the August report alone shows 14 grants in 44 parole decisions, about 32%.

The 14 people granted parole, with the localities where their sentences were imposed, were: Rodney Jerome Jones (Newport News), Isaac Terrell Taylor (Richmond), David Brown Jr. (Norfolk), Victor Fields (Norfolk), Stephen Michael Lineham (Fairfax County), Reginald Shell (Hampton and Newport News), Selwyn Shawn Herring (Norfolk), Dennis Rodney Harold (Richmond and Norfolk), Edward Charles White (Pittsylvania County), Derrick Lee Wright (Lynchburg and Amherst County), Randy Edward Logsdon Jr. (Virginia Beach), Reginald James Holland (Arlington County), William Kennedy Robinson (Mecklenburg County) and Oscar Robert Lemen (Albemarle County).

The four homicide cases include Victor Fields, who a 1993 Daily Press column said shot 27-year-old Mark Borkowski dead on a Norfolk basketball court in 1992 over a foul call, and Reginald Shell, who a 1990 appeals court opinion says confessed to killing his father in Hampton in 1989. Shell also has a second first-degree homicide judgment from Newport News carrying a life sentence.

The eight sex-offense cases include Oscar Robert Lemen of Albemarle County, who an appeals court opinion says was convicted of offenses against a 13-year-old girl, and Reginald James Holland of Arlington County, whose record lists rape, sodomy, robbery and two abductions. Even the board's chair voted against Holland's release, citing "the lack of demonstrated remorse." He was paroled 3-2 anyway.

This is the board Spanberger built. Her office announced the five appointments in March, and the General Assembly, where Democrats hold majorities, confirmed them in Senate Joint Resolution 209. The resolution shows each new member replacing a member of the previous board. Chair Shannon Dion was previously appointed director of the state Department of Criminal Justice Services by Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, according to the governor's announcement. Board Member Tyrone Nelson has been elected to the Henrico Board of Supervisors as a Democrat.

The contrast with Republican leadership is stark. Under Gov. Glenn Youngkin, the board's grant rate fell to about 1.6% in 2023, according to Bolts magazine. WJLA reported in October that Spanberger's board had granted 48 of 205 discretionary and geriatric cases since its first meeting in May, nearly one in four.

The board does give reasons, and they deserve to be stated fairly. In nearly every grant, members cited infraction-free records, program completion, low risk-assessment scores, stable release plans and acceptance of responsibility. In several cases, prosecutors supported release, and in one Virginia Beach case three of the victims and their parents backed it.

But the reasons also include claims that are hard to square with the record. The board listed "No history of violence" for a Newport News man convicted of rape and forcible sodomy, and for a Virginia Beach man with more than a dozen sex-offense convictions.

Nothing in the record shows the governor directing any individual decision. The board votes, and its members are accountable for their votes. But the board serves at the governor's pleasure, which means Spanberger can change its direction at any time. WJLA reported that it asked her office whether she approves of the board's pace and had not received an answer.

Victims' families and the prosecutors in these localities should be heard before any of these men walks out. The board's report does not list release dates.

Email the Richmond City Council:
Andrew Breton, andrew.breton@rva.gov,
Katherine Jordan, katherine.jordan@rva.gov,
Kenya Gibson, kenya.gibson@rva.gov,
Sarah Abubaker, sarah.abubaker@rva.gov,
Stephanie Lynch, stephanie.lynch@rva.gov,
Ellen Robertson, ellen.robertson@rva.gov,
Cynthia Newbille, cynthia.newbille@rva.gov,
Reva Trammell, reva.trammell@rva.gov,
Nicole Jones, nicole.jones@rva.gov,

Email the Virginia Beach Board/Council:
Robert Dyer, mayorsoffice@vbgov.com,
Michael Berlucchi, mberlucc@vbgov.com,
Stacy Cummings, stcummings@vbgov.com,
Barbara Henley, bhenley@vbgov.com,
David Hutcheson, dhutcheson@vbgov.com,
Cal Jackson-Green, cjacksongreen@vbgov.com,
Robert Remick, wremick@vbgov.com,
Amelia Ross-Hammond, arosshammond@vbgov.com,
Jennifer Rouse, jvrouse@vbgov.com,
Joashua Schulman, jschulman@vbgov.com,
Rosemary Wilson, rcwilson@vbgov.com,

Email the Albemarle County Board/Council:
Ned Gallaway, ngallaway@albemarle.org,
Fred Missel, fmissel2@albemarle.org,
Sally Duncan, sduncan@albemarle.org,
Bea LaPisto-Kirtley, bkirtley@albemarle.org,
Mike Pruitt, mpruitt@albemarle.org,
Ann Mallek, amallek@albemarle.org,

Email the Fairfax City Board/Council:
Catherine Read, Catherine.Read@fairfaxva.gov,
Anthony Amos, Anthony.Amos@fairfaxva.gov,
Billy Bates, Billy.Bates@fairfaxva.gov,
Stacy Hall, Stacy.Hall@fairfaxva.gov,
Stacey Hardy-Chandler, Stacey.Hardy-Chandler@fairfaxva.gov,
Rachel McQuillen, Rachel.McQuillen@fairfaxva.gov,
Thomas Peterson, Tom.Peterson@fairfaxva.gov,

Email the Hampton City Board/Council:
Jimmy Gray, jgray@hampton.gov,
Steven Brown, steven.brown@hampton.gov,
Randy Bowman, randy.bowman@hampton.gov,
Carolyn Campbell, carolyn.campbell@hampton.gov,
Michelle Ferebee, michelle.ferebee@hampton.gov,
Hope Harper, hope.harper@hampton.gov,
Martha Mugler, martha.mugler@hampton.gov,

Email the Lynchburg Board/Council:
Larry Taylor, larry.taylor@lynchburgva.gov,
Curt Diemer, curt.diemer@lynchburgva.gov,
Sterling Wilder, sterling.wilder@lynchburgva.gov,
Chris Faraldi, chris.faraldi@lynchburgva.gov,
Stephanie Reed, stephanie.reed@lynchburgva.gov,
Marty Misjuns, martin.misjuns@lynchburgva.gov,
Jacqueline Timmer, jacqueline.timmer@lynchburgva.gov,

Email the Newport News Board/Council:
Phillip Jones, mayorsoffice@nnva.gov,
Curtis Bethany III, council@nnva.gov,
Robert Coleman, council@nnva.gov,
John Eley III, council@nnva.gov,
Marcellus Harris III, council@nnva.gov,
Cleon Long, council@nnva.gov,
Tina Vick, council@nnva.gov,

Email the Norfolk Board/Council:
Kenneth Alexander, mayor@norfolk.gov,
Martin Thomas, martin.thomas@norfolk.gov,
Courtney Doyle, courtney.doyle@norfolk.gov,
Mamie Johnson, mamie.johnson@norfolk.gov,
John Paige, john.paige@norfolk.gov,
Thomas Smigiel, thomas.smigiel@norfolk.gov,
Jeremy McGee, jeremy.mcgee@norfolk.gov,
Carlos Clanton, carlos.clanton@norfolk.gov,

Email the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors:
Jeffrey C. McKay, chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Kathy L. Smith, sully@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Rachna Sizemore Heizer, braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov,
James N. Bierman Jr., dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Rodney L. Lusk, franconia@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Walter L. Alcorn, huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Andres F. Jimenez, mason@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Daniel G. Storck, mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Dalia A. Palchik, providence@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Pat Herrity, springfield@fairfaxcounty.gov,

Fairfax is an independent city in Northern Virginia.

Email the Fairfax City Board/Council:
Catherine Read, Catherine.Read@fairfaxva.gov,
Anthony Amos, Anthony.Amos@fairfaxva.gov,
Billy Bates, Billy.Bates@fairfaxva.gov,
Stacy Hall, Stacy.Hall@fairfaxva.gov,
Stacey Hardy-Chandler, Stacey.Hardy-Chandler@fairfaxva.gov,
Rachel McQuillen, Rachel.McQuillen@fairfaxva.gov,
Thomas Peterson, Tom.Peterson@fairfaxva.gov,

Fairfax County is a county in Northern Virginia. Its county seat is Fairfax, an independent city.

Email the Arlington County Board of Sueprvisors:
Matt de Ferranti, mdeferranti@arlingtonva.us,
Maureen Coffey, mcoffey@arlingtonva.us,
Susan Cunningham, scunningham@arlingtonva.us,
Julius D. “JD” Spain, Sr., jdspainsr@arlingtonva.us,
Takis P. Karantonis, tkarantonis@arlingtonva.us,

Arlington County is a county in Northern Virginia. Its county seat is Arlington.

Email the Virginia Beach Board/Council:
Robert Dyer, mayorsoffice@vbgov.com,
Michael Berlucchi, mberlucc@vbgov.com,
Stacy Cummings, stcummings@vbgov.com,
Barbara Henley, bhenley@vbgov.com,
David Hutcheson, dhutcheson@vbgov.com,
Cal Jackson-Green, cjacksongreen@vbgov.com,
Robert Remick, wremick@vbgov.com,
Amelia Ross-Hammond, arosshammond@vbgov.com,
Jennifer Rouse, jvrouse@vbgov.com,
Joashua Schulman, jschulman@vbgov.com,
Rosemary Wilson, rcwilson@vbgov.com,

Virginia Beach is an independent city in Hampton Roads.

Albemarle County is a county in Central Virginia. Its county seat is Charlottesville, an independent city.

Email the Albemarle County Board/Council:
Ned Gallaway, ngallaway@albemarle.org,
Fred Missel, fmissel2@albemarle.org,
Sally Duncan, sduncan@albemarle.org,
Bea LaPisto-Kirtley, bkirtley@albemarle.org,
Mike Pruitt, mpruitt@albemarle.org,
Ann Mallek, amallek@albemarle.org,

Hampton is an independent city in Hampton Roads.

Email the Hampton City Board/Council:
Jimmy Gray, jgray@hampton.gov,
Steven Brown, steven.brown@hampton.gov,
Randy Bowman, randy.bowman@hampton.gov,
Carolyn Campbell, carolyn.campbell@hampton.gov,
Michelle Ferebee, michelle.ferebee@hampton.gov,
Hope Harper, hope.harper@hampton.gov,
Martha Mugler, martha.mugler@hampton.gov,

Lynchburg is an independent city in Central Virginia.

Email the Lynchburg Board/Council:
Larry Taylor, larry.taylor@lynchburgva.gov,
Curt Diemer, curt.diemer@lynchburgva.gov,
Sterling Wilder, sterling.wilder@lynchburgva.gov,
Chris Faraldi, chris.faraldi@lynchburgva.gov,
Stephanie Reed, stephanie.reed@lynchburgva.gov,
Marty Misjuns, martin.misjuns@lynchburgva.gov,
Jacqueline Timmer, jacqueline.timmer@lynchburgva.gov,

Newport News is an independent city in Hampton Roads.

Email the Newport News Board/Council:
Phillip Jones, mayorsoffice@nnva.gov,
Curtis Bethany III, council@nnva.gov,
Robert Coleman, council@nnva.gov,
John Eley III, council@nnva.gov,
Marcellus Harris III, council@nnva.gov,
Cleon Long, council@nnva.gov,
Tina Vick, council@nnva.gov,

Norfolk is an independent city in Hampton Roads.

Email the Norfolk Board/Council:
Kenneth Alexander, mayor@norfolk.gov,
Martin Thomas, martin.thomas@norfolk.gov,
Courtney Doyle, courtney.doyle@norfolk.gov,
Mamie Johnson, mamie.johnson@norfolk.gov,
John Paige, john.paige@norfolk.gov,
Thomas Smigiel, thomas.smigiel@norfolk.gov,
Jeremy McGee, jeremy.mcgee@norfolk.gov,
Carlos Clanton, carlos.clanton@norfolk.gov,