STATE CHAMPS: The Woodbridge girls basketball team made history last week. Page 14
March 13, 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.
Medicaid, MAT expand help for addicts By Karen Chaffraix Times Staff Writer
Deaths from drug overdoses, many the result of opioid abuse, have been on the rise since 2013 and numbered 71 in Prince William County in 2018. Now, wider access to Medicaid and a new clinic offering “medication-assisted treatment” for substance abuse disorders are giving those battling ad-
diction more options. SaVida Health, based in Nashville, recently opened new outpatient clinics in Woodbridge and Front Royal. Recognizing that addiction is a disease, “not a personal failure,” according to its website, SaVida Health uses MAT, to help patients addicted to opioids and alcohol.
MAT involves the anti-craving medication buprenorphine, known by the brand name “Suboxone,” combined with behavioral therapy and case management. Lisa Madron, Prince William County’s executive director for community services, said the addition of SaVida Health is significant because the clinic takes Medicaid. Virginia lawmak-
ers voted in 2018 to expand access to Medicaid to any adult making up to 138 percent of the poverty level, or about $16,700 a year. Prior to that change, which took effect Jan. 1, only disabled adults or adults with children were eligible for Medicaid, meaning the program was unavailable to many low-income adults battling addiction. See MAT, page 5
New elementary school named for the late John D. Jenkins By Jill Palermo
Times Staff Writer
20th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Prince William County’s newest elementary school, set to open this fall, will be named for the late John D. Jenkins, who held the Neabsco District seat on the Prince Supervisor William County John D. Jenkins Board of Supervisors for 36 years. The school board voted unanimously Wednesday, March 6, to name the new school for Jenkins, who passed away Feb. 6. He was 79. School Board member Lillie Jessie, who represents the Occoquan District, where the new school will be built, made the motion to name the school for Jenkins. The school is being constructed on Prince William Parkway near the Chinn Aquatics and Fitness Center. “When you think of John Jenkins, the word institution is …fitting. Some called him Mr. Dale City, but most frequently we just called him John,” Jessie said. “He was a quiet, giant man who sought little if anything in return… he was always there. … He loved his community.” School Board Chairman Dr. Babur Lateef said all of Prince William’s elected officials – including members of both the board of supervisors and school board – were united in the decision to name the new
Old Town Manassas was a sea of green on Saturday, March 9, as the annual Greater Manassas St. Patrick’s Day Parade marched through the city. The 20th annual parade featured plenty of Irish flair, including several bagpipe bands and Irish dancing groups. Hundreds lined the streets to watch the procession. The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums, dressed in bright red plaid, were among the music groups performing in the parade. For more photos from the parade, see page 16. PHOTOS BY DOUG STROUD.
See JENKINS, page 3 INSIDE Calendar.............................................18 Classified............................................21 Lifestyle..............................................17 Obituaries...........................................20
Opinion...............................................11 Puzzle Page........................................13 Real Estate..........................................19 Sports.................................................14
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Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | March 13, 2019
Judge upholds jury’s sentence for Hamilton Staff sergeant to serve 7 life sentences for wife, police officer’s deaths By Amanda Heincer
William County Circuit Court Judge Steven S. Smith upheld the sentence a jury recommended for the Army In a letter to a Prince William Cir- staff sergeant convicted of two cuit Court judge, Ronald Williams counts of capital murder and several Hamilton apologized for his actions other charges for the 2016 shootings. on Feb. 27, 2016, when he fatally Smith sentenced Hamilton, 35, to shot his wife Crystal Hamilton and serve seven consecutive life sentencPrince William County police officer es, plus 93 years, for the deaths of Ashley Guindon and shot two other his wife, who was 29 at the time of officers who were seriously injured the shooting, and of Guindon, who but survived. was 28, as well as for the shootings “I want to tell my family, friends, of Prince William County police fellow soldiers, members of the com- officers Jesse Hempen and David munity, and each person who was McKeown, who were seriously inpersonally affected, that I am sorry,” jured but survived. Hamilton wrote. “I failed to keep my Jurors recommended the sentence vow as a husband and father and my at the end of a two-and-a half month oath to the country.” trial last year. Jurors spared HamilBut in emotional testimony at ton from the death penalty, returning Hamilton’s sentencing hearing a unanimous life verdict on one of Thursday afternoon, family mem- two capital murder charges. bers of Guindon and Crystal HamJurors could not reach a unaniilton said apologies are not enough mous verdict on the second capital to ease the pain they have felt after murder charge, meaning that under their loved ones’ deaths. Virginia law, Hamilton’s sentence on “There’s no apology in the world that charge would be life in prison that would ever take away what hap- without the possibility of parole. pened to my family, ever,” Crystal Hamilton shot Crystal Hamilton Hamilton’s sister, Wendy Howard, with a handgun inside the couple's said in her testimony. “It’s beyond Woodbridge home while their son, repair… you can never fix this, ever.” who was 11 at the time, hid in his At the conclusion of the hearing, bedroom. which included testimony from four He then proceeded to shoot Guinof Guindon’s family members and don, Hempen and McKeown, who two of Crystal Hamilton’s, Prince arrived at his home in response to Times Staff Writer
COURTESY PHOTO
Prince William County Police Officer Ashley Guindon, 28, and Crystal Hamilton, 29, were fatally shot on Feb. 27, 2016.
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Crystal Hamilton's 911 call for help. Hamilton shot the three police officers with an AK-47 rifle. The spasm of violence occurred on Guindon’s first day on the job as a Prince William County police officer. At the sentencing hearing, several of Guindon’s and Crystal Hamilton’s family members testified about the impact their loved ones’ deaths have had on their lives. Crystal Hamilton’s sister and mother testified that her death has devastated them. “I’m angry, I’m hurt, I’m disappointed…because this should not have happened,” Wendy Howard said. “I miss my sister every day. My life is lonely without my sister.” Crystal Hamilton’s mother, Cherry Murphy, recalled when she first learned of Crystal’s death. “I was still in shock. I didn’t believe it because I didn’t think he was that evil,” she said through tears. “He didn’t love her. You don’t kill or hurt someone you love,” said Murphy, who began sobbing, and was helped out of the witness stand and courtroom by her daughter and a sheriff’s deputy. Sharon Guindon, Ashley Guindon’s mother, said her life has been forever changed by her daughter’s death. “I can’t even begin to think of the words to describe the last three years… without my only daughter,” Guindon said. “She was my whole world, my whole life. I struggle every day.” Three other family members also testified about the loss of Guindon, who they described as a cheerful, loving young woman. “She brought joy to everyone,” her mother said. Prince William County police officers, including Hempen, who was
injured in the shooting, filled several rows of the courtroom during the sentencing hearing. McKeown did not attend the hearing because he was at the Ronald Williams hospital, having Hamilton his 14th arm surgery for injuries he suffered in the shooting, prosecutors said. Hamilton chose not to speak at the sentencing hearing, but asked his defense attorney, Edward Ungvarsky to speak for him and express his apologies and remorse. In the letter he sent to the court, Hamilton offered apologies to his family, to Guindon’s family, to McKeown and Hempen, to his fellow soldiers and to his son. “I changed the lives of so many people, and I pray for each and every one of them every single day,” Hamilton wrote. “I continue to pray for forgiveness and work towards redemption. Hamilton’s defense attorneys told Smith they would not ask him to deviate from the jury’s sentence, or to suspend any time, but asked that Smith order that the sentences be served concurrently, rather than consecutively. Prosecutors asked that the sentences be consecutive. After Smith imposed the consecutive sentences, Guindon’s mother thanked the judge. Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Guindon said she was happy with the verdict. “I just so appreciate what the judge did today,” she said. Reach Amanda Heincer at aheincer@fauquier.com
Police: Man shot, stabbed in Bristow
after asking him for directions in the Woodbridge area Saturday, Prince William County police said. Officers responded to the 15700 block of Blackburn Road in Woodbridge at 4:28 p.m. Saturday, March 9, to investigate the incident, Prince William County police said in a news release. A 35-year-old man told police that he had just gotten out of his vehicle when two unknown men approached him. The men then distracted the victim by asking for directions before pepper spraying him and attempting to take his belongings, police said in the news release. The victim ran to a nearby business and called police. The suspects fled the area before police arrived. Minor injuries were reported and no property was taken, police said in the news release. The victim was only able to describe the suspects as black men, police said in the news release. The investigation continues.
An 18-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries after he was shot and stabbed in Bristow Friday, Prince William County police said. Officers responded to a wooded area near the 12000 block of Hooe Road in Bristow at 6:40 p.m. Friday, March 8, for reports of a person with gunshot wounds, Prince William County police said in a news release. When officers arrived, they located the victim, identified as an 18-year-old man, suffering from gunshot and stab wounds, police said in the news release. The man was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said. The incident does not appear to be random, police said in the news release.
Police investigate attempted robbery in Woodbridge
Two men attempted to rob a man
FROM PAGE 1
Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | March 13, 2019
New elementary school named for the late John D. Jenkins JENKINS, from page 1 school for Jenkins. “Everyone was enthusiastic about it,” Lateef said. The entire school board shared the job of reading the resolution naming the school for Jenkins, with each member reading aloud one “whereas clause” of the document, which highlighted Jenkins’ many accomplishments during his nearly four decades on the county board.
Jenkins’ widow, Ernestine Jenkins, his sons and several of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren attended the meeting to watch as the school board named the new school for their father and grandfather. Mark Jenkins, one of Jenkins’ three sons, said the family is “grateful” for the school board’s decision. “With all that’s been said about our dad, you know where his heart was. His heart was with the children
PHOTO ROGER SNYDER
John D. Jenkins Elementary School is under construction on Prince William Parkway near the Chinn Aquatics and Fitness Center.
of our community,” Mark Jenkins said. “It’s an honor to have the school board move so quickly to name a school for him. We’re grateful.” Ernestine Jenkins took the podium briefly to thank the community for their “outpouring of love and honor” in the wake of her husband’s death. She said her husband’s love for children was a big part of his desire to serve the community, noting he enjoyed visiting elementary schools and reading to students. “His love for children just amazed me. He enjoyed being, and I think his heart, was to be a public servant from the day I married him at 18 years old,” Ernestine Jenkins said. Students, she said, were “his number one priority.” “The John D. Jenkins Elementary School will be a wonderful part of his legacy as he stays alive in Dale City,” she added. During his years on the county board, Jenkins was known as a strong supporter for the school division and a reliable vote in support of the school board's annual budget request. Jenkins also pushed for the construction of county facilities geared toward children and families, including the Dale City Recreation Center, the county's Boys' and Girls' Club, the Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center, the Chinn Park Regional Library and Fitness Center and the Freedom Aquatics Center. Jenkins, who hailed from Ala-
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bama, moved his family to Prince William County in the early 1970s, when he was stationed at the Pentagon. He retired from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel after serving two tours in Vietnam. In 1982, Jenkins was appointed to the board of supervisors to fill the Neabsco District seat vacated by former supervisor James McCoart. Jenkins’ name was suggested for the new school along with several others, including national figures such as President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and former defense secretary Gen. Colin Powell. Local residents whose names were put forward included that of Ashley Guindon, the Prince William police officer who was fatally shot while responding to a domestic violence call during her first day on the job in 2016. Other suggestions as namesakes for the new school were Richard Proffitt, a Prince William County school bus driver who was killed in an accident on the school division’s bus lot in early 2018; School Board member Lillie Jessie (Occoquan) and Mary Jane Chinn, a former slave who, along with her husband, Tom Chinn, purchased several hundred acres along Davis Ford and Telegraph roads in Woodbridge, where they raised eight sons. Mary Jane Chinn died in 1927, according to a school division report on names suggested for the new school. Reach Jill Palermo at jpalermo@ fauquier.com
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