Gov. Youngkin calls for investigation into ‘repeated failures’ of Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney after alleged attempted child abduction

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares are calling for an investigation into Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano after a man they say had just been released from jail allegedly tried to abduct a child at the Fair Oaks Mall.

At around 11:45 a.m. on July 18, officers responded to the Fair Oaks Mall for a reported abduction. There, police learned that a young girl was near an indoor play area when a man picked her up and walked away with her, making it all the way to the second floor of the shopping center before the girl’s parents intervened and got her back uninjured, according to officials.

The suspect, who police identified as 26-year-old Andres Caceres Jaldin, reportedly fled before officers arrived. Investigators discovered that he was staying at Extended Stay in Chantilly, and had stolen a car from a nearby auto body repair shop earlier that morning, according to police.

Authorities arrested Caceres Jaldin at his hotel room that afternoon.

Now, Youngkin is calling on Miyares to open an investigation into Descano, alleging that Caceres Jaldin is a “repeat offender” who was released from Fairfax County jail just three days before the incident.

“There is a shocking and unforgivable pattern in Fairfax County of releasing criminals back onto Virginia’s streets instead of keeping them behind bars,” Youngkin wrote, in part, in a post on the X platform Friday night. “The Commonwealth’s Attorney cares more about protecting criminals than about keeping children safe.”

Following Youngkin’s post, Miyares also took to X, saying his office “will examine the facts and report to the people of Fairfax why CA Descano’s refusal to prosecute criminals has been allowed to endanger the public.”

According to court records obtained by DC News Now, Caceres Jaldin was released on his own recognizance on July 15 in connection with a hit and run that took place on July 2. “Release on one’s own recognizance” is a court’s decision to allow a person who has been charged with a crime to be released from custody based on their promised to return to court and follow certain guidelines while awaiting trial.

Court records also show that Caceres Jaldin had previous arrests for various offenses including destruction of property, assault and battery on a family member and malicious wounding; however, these charges were formally dropped by prosecution.

DC News Now reached out to Descano’s office for comment but has not yet heard back.