Yesterday, I raised the following questions about Xavier Pinckney after PWC Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul Ebert stated that Pinckney was “known to law enforcement.”

So, was this suspect someone who the police should have already had locked up (or at least in juvenile detention) for a previous crime? Did the Commonwealth’s Attorney office botch a prior prosecution of him or were they lenient with him because he was a juvenile? In short, was there something that could have been done that would have placed the suspect in such a position where he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to commit these murders?

Today’s WashPo raises the stakes with regard to those questions:

Police credited tips from the neighborhood and old-fashioned mug shots — the juvenile had a history of burglaries in the area, they said — for the quick arrest.

. . .

The suspect, who authorities said has several criminal convictions, is due in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court on Jan. 12.

. . .

Police then searched for the criminal records of people who live in the neighborhood — focusing on burglaries — and showed a photo spread to witnesses, who ultimately identified the suspect.

History of burglaries?  Several criminal convictions?  There is just one question that NEEDS to be asked and answered here — why was Xavier Pinckney free to murder Jean and Jim Smith?

It sounds as if the police were doing their job with regard to this suspect, having arrested him on multiple occasions.  That leaves just a few possibilities:

1.  The Commonwealth of Virginia’s juvenile justice system is woefully inadequate and doesn’t provide for tougher sentencing for repeat offenders like Pinckney.

2.  The judges in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (or General District Court if his cases were handed up to them) were too lenient with Pinckney when they sentenced him for his prior convictions.

3.  The Commonwealth’s Attorney office, despite winning convictions of Pinckney, didn’t push for tougher sentencing despite his continuing crime spree.

4.  A combination of these factors.

For whatever reason or reasons, Pinckney was not in a juvenile detention facility where it sounds as if he should have belonged.  Had he been locked up in a juvenile detention facility rather than free and going to Hylton High School, he would not have had the opportunity to murder Jean and Jim Smith.

Prince William County residents DESERVE ANSWERS!  Why was Xavier Pinckney free to murder Jean and Jim Smith?