POWER MOVES: Four Prince William basketball teams will play in the state quarterfinals. SPORTS Page 9
February 27, 2019 | Vol. 18, No. 9 | www.PrinceWilliamTimes.com | 50¢ Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.
Candidates set for Neabsco supervisor’s race Victor Angry wins Democratic primary, GOP picks Devinder Singh By Jill Palermo
Times Staff Writer
Victor Angry was the first African American to be named command sergeant major of the Army National Guard. Devinder Singh immigrated to the U.S. from India almost 30 years ago and now owns four 7-Eleven convenience stores in Prince William and Fairfax counties. In April, one of the two will join the Prince William County Board of Supervisors as the new representative from the Neabsco District. Angry, 50, is the Democratic nominee for the April 9 special election to fill the last eight months of the late John Jenkins’ term on the county board. Angry won that distinction by garnering 70.9 percent of the vote in the firehouse primary local Democrats held Sunday, Feb. 24. Angry won 266
of the 375 votes cast in the four-way contest. The Prince William County Republican Committee held a small caucus on Tuesday, Feb. 19, to pick its candidate for the race. Committee Chairman Bill Card said the group emailed about 280 GOP volunteers who live in the Neabsco District to Devinder Singh spread the word about the nominating process. “About eight to 10 people” came out to select Singh, who was one of two volunteer candidates, Card said. Card said the committee declined to name its candidate publicly until the Democratic firehouse
primary was over out of respect for Jenkins’ widow, Ernestine Jenkins, who they thought might want to fulfill her husband’s term. On Monday, Feb. 25, Singh filed his candidate’s paperwork at the Prince William County Office of Elections. Singh said he decided to run because he believes he has achieved the American Victor Angry dream and wants others to do the same. Singh said his primary goal is to bring more businesses to the Dale City area, where he has lived for more than 20 years. See NEABSCO, page 4
‘Quartz District’ raising questions about schools, roads Details still emerging about 1,005-home project in Dale City
An artist’s rendering of the “Quartz District,” a new development of townhomes, condominiums an apartments planned for 143 acres in Dale City, near the intersection of Prince William Parkway and Minnieville Road.
By Jill Palermo
Times Staff Writer
The “Quartz District,” a new development proposed for now-undeveloped land at the intersection of Minnieville Road and Prince William Parkway, envisions adding 2,372 new residents and 430 new students to eastern Prince William County. The mixed-use project plans 610 townhomes, 180 condominiums and 225 apartments built around a commercial core that will include retail, restaurants and office space. The project aims to be similar to Fairfax Corner or Crown Farm in Gaithersburg, Maryland -- not quite as urban as the Mosaic District or Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center but lively enough to attract millennials and businesses looking to exist amid shops and restaurants, according to Russ Gestl, principal of Buchanan Partners. Marketing materials say the Quartz District will offer “a walkable neighborhood center with pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, open spaces, a grocery store and ‘experiential retail’ that will distinguish
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[it] from other surrounding shopping centers.” Plans include a manmade “lake” that will function as a storm-water management facility. A variety of “opportunities” would be available along the water’s edge, including “outdoor seating for restaurants and a plaza for gathering and programmed events.” Gestl said the development is being planned with the help of a retail consultant that also does retail brokerage and aims to offer a more vibrant mix than the grocery-store anchored strip malls ubiquitous along INSIDE Calendar.............................................12 Classified............................................15 Lifestyle..............................................11 Obituaries...........................................14
eastern Prince William’s main thoroughfares. “We don’t want the same old, same old retail that’s all along Prince William Parkway,” Gestl said. “We want the Friday night movies on the lawn, restaurants with sidewalk tables, retail that’s fresher.” But as is the case with any new large development, the Quartz District is raising lots of questions about how its nearly 2,400 residents would affect traffic-clogged roads and overcrowded schools. The development is zoned for Opinion.................................................7 Puzzle Page..........................................6 Real Estate..........................................13 Sports...................................................9
Vaughan Elementary, Woodbridge Middle and Gar-Field High School. Vaughan Elementary is already at capacity and will remain so even when the new Prince William Parkway elementary school opens next fall. Woodbridge Middle is overcrowded by more than 200 students. Only Gar-Field High is under-capacity. Buchanan has yet to detail how they would mitigate the development’s impacts to roads, schools and other county services. Those were See QUARTZ DISTRICT, page 4
86 WARRENTON, VA
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Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | February 27, 2019
Former church youth leader pleads guilty to more charges of sexual abuse By Amanda Heincer Times Staff Writer
A former youth leader at a megachurch with a Manassas campus pleaded guilty Monday to additional charges of sexual abuse against a minor, this time stemming from encounters with a 16-year-old girl at the church dating back to 2014. Jordan David Baird, 27, of Warrenton, pleaded guilty in Prince William Circuit Court Monday, Feb. 25, to two counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor. Baird was a youth leader at The Life Church, which has campuses in Manassas, Warrenton and Winchester. Baird was also a music teacher at the affiliated Life Music Academy, located in the Manassas church, prosecutors said in court documents. Baird is the son of Life Church
Gainesville man faces more charges in Feb. 10 domestic assault
A 39-year-old Gainesville man was arrested on additional charges relating to a Feb. 10 attack on a female family member, according to Prince William County police. Shaun Alexander King, 39, of the 13000 block of Handel Place, Gainesville, was already being held without bond at the Prince William
Pastor David Baird and the brother of Joshua Baird, who is also a pastor of the church. M o n d a y ’s convictions are the second for Jordan Baird, who was convicted in 2018 Jordan Baird of five counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor for sexual activity and suggestive electronic messages he sent to another teen girl in 2015. He was sentenced to serve eight months in jail in that case and was released last summer. In Monday’s hearing, Fredericksburg Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Kevin Gross said Jordan
Baird had inappropriate contact with a girl during a music lesson at the church in 2014 when she was 16 and he was 23. The inappropriate contact began when the girl was Jordan Baird’s music student, prosecutors said. During one lesson, he said “something to the effect of that he would marry her if he was not with his wife,” prosecutors said in court documents. Jordan Baird also told the girl “she was pretty and beautiful,” Gross said in court. Gross said Jordan Baird also sent the girl suggestive messages on an anonymous online messaging application and then asked her to come to a make-up music lesson at the church. Gross said the two began the lesson while Jordan Baird’s wife was there and then, after his wife had left, he and the girl went to another room,
where he asked her to perform sexual acts with him. The girl repeatedly refused. When she left the lesson, she told her mother she did not want to go back. According to court records, prosecutors were prepared to present evidence about Jordan Baird’s previous convictions and allegations from two other girls who accused him of similar sexual conduct with them. At least two of the other alleged victims were set to testify at his trial in this case, according to court records. Jordan Baird faces up to five years in prison on each charge when he is sentenced on May 20. Judge John E. Wetsel Jr. ruled that he can remain free on bail until his sentencing hearing. A $10,000 secured bond was previously set in the case. Reach Amanda Heincer at aheincer@fauquier.com
County jail in connection with the Feb. 10 incident during which a 35-year-old female family member was “punched in the face several times, causing severe injuries,” prompting her to seek treatment at a local hospital, Prince William County police spokeswoman Renee Carr said. On Feb. 16, police received information that the victim was also sexually assaulted and choked during
the encounter, which took place at the couple’s home. King has been charged with attempted rape, strangulation and domestic assault and battery in connection with the incident. He is being held at the jail without bond, Carr said.
determined he suffered life-threatening injuries, Carr wrote. The vehicle may have been a light colored, newer model, Ford F350 dually pickup. Anyone with information about the incident should contact police at 703-792-6500.
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Saturday, March 9, 2019 11 am
Starting at the corner of Quarry Road and Prescott Avenue in Old Town Manassas, VA
Enjoy... • City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums • Northern Virginia Firefighters Emerald Society Pipes and Drums • Washington Scottish Pipes and Drums • City of Winchester Pipes and Drums • Marine Corps Color Guard • Ancient Order of Hibernians Divisions • Irish Dance Groups and much more!
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Dumfries hit and run leaves 62-year-old man seriously injured
Police are looking for a light-colored, newer model Ford F350 pickup truck in connection with a hitand-run crash in Dumfries that left a 62-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries. The crash occurred about 6:29 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, in the area of Graham Park and Old Triangle roads, Prince William County police spokeswoman Renee Carr said in a statement. The investigation revealed an unknown vehicle was making a right turn from eastbound Graham Park Road onto southbound Old Triangle Road when it struck the man, who was crossing the road. The vehicle stopped briefly before continuing southbound on Old Triangle Road. The victim was transported to a local hospital where it was
ISSN 1050-7655, USPS 188280 Published every Wednesday by Piedmont Media LLC How to reach us ADDRESS: 41 Culpeper Street Warrenton, Virginia 20186 PHONE: 540-347-4222 FAX: 540-349-8676 HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 24-hour answering service Publisher Catherine M. Nelson, 540-300-4780 cnelson@fauquier.com NEWSROOM Managing Editor Jill Palermo, 540-351-0431 jpalermo@fauquier.com Web/Copy Editor Amanda Heincer, 540-878-2418 aheincer@fauquier.com
Arrest made in 2012 sexual assault of then-10-year-old girl
Prince William County police have made an arrest in connection with a sexual assault involving a girl who was 10 years old at the time of the incident. In December 2018, detectives with the Special Victims Bureau began to investigate a sexual assault that occurred at a Woodbridge home in 2012 or 2013 that was recently disclosed by the victim. The investigation revealed that the accused, a family member, sexually assaulted the female victim sometime between August of 2012 and August of 2013. Manuel Bonilla, 34, of Woodbridge, was arrested and charged Feb. 15 with aggravated sexual battery in connection with the incident. He is being held without bond at the Prince William County jail.
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Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | February 27, 2019
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Proposed county budget fully funds schools Average annual tax bills to rise $147 By Jill Palermo
Times Staff Writer
additional $28.3 million in revenue, Martino said.
Prince William property owners Raises for public-safety officers The spending plan would award would pay about $147 more in real 3-percent raises to county staff and estate taxes next year under the $3.1 add about 88 new positions, 60 of billion budget County Executive which would be added to the counChris Martino presented to the board ty’s public-safety officer ranks. of supervisors last week. The budget will also spend about The spending plan will ful$10.5 million to implement “phase ly fund Superintendent Steven II” of the planned pay changes for Walts’ budget for county schools the county’s public-safety officers. and boost pay and personnel in the county’s police department and The changes aim to make police officer and firefighter pay more competfire-and-rescue ranks. Martino, now in his third year at itive with surrounding jurisdictions. Fire and rescue department staff the helm of county operations, prewill transition to 24-hour shifts and sented a spending plan Tuesday, Feb. 56-hour work weeks starting July 19. It keeps the county’s re1, which is also consistent al-estate tax rate flat while Average tax with surrounding jurisdicmaintaining the current fire bill under tions, Martino said. levy and other fees. The budget funds the imTax bills would tick up proposed plementation of Next Genbecause residential property county eration 911, an upgrade that values rose about 3.4 perbudget: allows the system to receive cent in the past year, while $4,177 voice, text and video. the value of commercial Public-safety was a clear properties strengthened by focus of the budget and one that about 2.8 percent. The average tax Board of Supervisors Chairman Cobill under Martino’s plan would be rey Stewart, R-At Large, homed in $4,177 based on a property valued a on when asked if he would support $371,000, the average assessed valMartino’s budget as presented. ue of a home in the county. Stewart said he would and called Martino’s budget includes about funding phase II of the public safe$1.2 billion in general fund revenue, ty pay plan “critical.” Without it, which is split with the school diviStewart said the county would lose sion according to the county’s revemore police officers and fire-rescue nue-sharing agreement. personnel. The budget delivers the full “We’re already losing them. If $607.2 million the school division is we didn’t have that we’d lose even expecting from the county to Walts’ more. We have to be in the market,” budget, which was presented to the Stewart said in an interview after the school board Feb. 6. Walts’ budget meeting. funds average teacher raises of 4.8 percent next year and more than 7 Data center debate percent over two school years: 2018One issue Stewart said he will 19 and 2019-20, Martino said. not press this year is a change to the The county’s contribution to county’s computer and peripherals Prince William’s 95 public schools tax rate, which he sought to triple would rise about 5.6 percent over last year in an effort to extract more the 2018-19 school year to deliver an tax money for the county’s growing
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Prince William officials provided this graphic to show how a tax dollar would be split among county services under the budget County Executive Chris Martino submitted Feb. 19. data center industry. Stewart said he still believes the county’s property tax rate on computer equipment is too low and he persuaded his fellow board members to direct Martino to begin discussions with representatives of local data centers to gradually raise the rate. “Clearly the data center industry has the ability to pay more and they should be paying more,” Stewart said. “We should direct the county executive to work with the data center industry… to gradually bring that up to where it should be, so they’re paying what they should be paying.” The board voted 4 to 2 direct Martino to begin such talks. Supervisors Marty Nohe, R-Coles, and Jeanine Lawson, R-Brentsville, voted against the directive. Nohe, who is running for the Republican nomination for board chairman, said the county should wait until a new economic development director is hired before making such a move. Nohe said he is pleased the budget includes the local match that will provide teachers with the full 5 percent raise promised by state officials for the coming year. Supervisor Frank Principi, noting growing waiting lists for housing and mental health services, expressed frustration the budget caps spending at 3.5 percent, which was the board’s
guidance to Martino. “I’m a little frustrated that we have a list of critical unmet needs that seems to be growing but we have a budget that’s filled with status Chris Martino quo,” said Principi, D-Woodbridge. “For me, that’s a disconnect between what our budget is and what our needs are, particularly when we want to be a community of choice.” Nohe, however, said the intent of the cap is to restrain spending. “I think it speaks well for the economy of our community that we are able to instate some policies and programs that I think our community wants and keep our tax rate flat,” Nohe said. The board will hold budget work sessions on March 5, 12 and 19. The school division will present its budget to the supervisors on April 2. The supervisors will hold a public hearing on the budget April 9 ahead of a mark-up session scheduled for April 23. The board is expected to adopt a final budget April 30. Reach Jill Palermo at jpalermo@ fauquier.com
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Members of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors during a recent meeting. From left, Supervisor Jeanine Lawson, R-Brentsville, Supervisor Marty Nohe, R-Coles, Supervisor Maureen Caddigan, R-Potomac, and Board Chairman Corey Stewart, R-At Large.
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