Youngkin wants probe of Soros-backed prosecutor after repeat offender charged in child’s abduction

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has ordered an investigation into Fairfax County’s top prosecutor, a beneficiary of liberal billionaire George Soros’ campaign funding machine, after a man with a lengthy rap sheet was charged with snatching a toddler at a shopping mall just days after being released from jail.

Mr. Youngkin directed fellow Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares to investigate Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano in light of surveillance video showing the suspect scooping up a 3-year-old girl in broad daylight at Fair Oaks Mall.

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

Mr. Youngkin was reacting to July 18 security footage allegedly showing Andres Caceres Jaldin taking the toddler after she wandered away from the play area on the mall’s first floor.

Police said Mr. Caceres Jaldin, 26, made it to the second floor before the girl’s mother caught up with him. The mother got her daughter back, and the suspect ran away as officers were en route.

Authorities said Mr. Caceres Jaldin was arrested later that same day. He was also linked to a stolen car the same morning that the child was abducted.

Court records show the suspect was arrested July 2 in a felony hit-and-run that left another person injured. He was released July 15 — three days before he was accused of attempting to abduct the child in Fair Oaks.

Mr. Caceres Jaldin also has a series of violent felony charges in Fairfax County.

In April 2024, he was charged with malicious wounding, which the state code defines as shooting, stabbing or inflicting a grave injury to another person. A month earlier, he was charged with assault and battery of a family member. And in September 2021, he was charged with shooting at a car.

Mr. Descano’s office eventually dropped the charges in each case, court records show.

“Fairfax families do not deserve to live in a climate of fear because one person refuses to do his job,” Mr. Miyares posted Friday on X. “My 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.”

The Washington Times contacted the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for comment.