Se. Assistant Commonweal’ Atorneys
ABIGAIL 1 OWENS,
CHARLES K. PETERS
[AMY M, CASSANDRA,
JAMES P. FISHER
Commonwealth’s Attorney
Assistant Commonveai's Atomeys
ANTONIO. BENEDI
ROTYLERBEZILLA,
JOHN B. CHICHESTER
DOUGLAS B. ROGERS
JAMEY E, COOK
Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney
OFFICE OF THE ROGER BARTON
COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY Vin is Ee Menage
29 Ashby Street » Warrenton, Virginia 20186 a
Telephone: ($80) 422-8120 + Fax: (540) 422-8121 Loni. 0Nes
Email: commonwealth atomncy@ fouirouny 60 en
Website: https://eommonwealthsattorney.com/ Crimes Again Chien & Vulberble Vets
April 20, 2018
Sheriff Robert Mosier
Fauquier County Sheriff's Office
78 West Lee Street
Warrenton, Virginia 20186
Re: Internal Review of Work Release and Trustee Programs
Dear Sheriff Mosier:
It has recently come to my attention that the Sheriff's Office has conducted at least two
internal reviews of the work release and trustee programs, following incidents which indicated a
lack of supervision of inmates in these two programs.
The first incident occurred on September 5, 2017 when Garrett Portela, an inmate
ied to the trustee program, was caught alone and unsupervised in a municipal parking lot
with his paramour Teresa Burchfield. Portela and Burchfield were both interviewed by FCSO
detectives and both admitted to meeting several times over a period of multiple months, during
which time Portela was an inmate assigned to the trustee program. During these meetings the two
would often have sexual intercourse and Burchfield would regularly bring Portela various items,
as she did on September 5. Burchfield was charged with a violation of Virginia Code Section
18.2-474 and that charge is currently pending before the General District Court.
The second incident occurred on January 25, 2018, when Trevor Staebler, an inmate
assigned to the work release program, was found to be in possession of an ounce of marijuana
and a large amount of cash, and was charged with felony possession with intent to distribute
marijuana. During the course of this investigation, detectives learned of allegations of favorable
treatment, lack of supervision, and inappropriate behavior by the Sheriff's deputy who was
charged with supervising inmates in the work release program.April 20, 2018
Page 2 of 2
It is my understanding that reviews of the programs and specific employees charged with
the supervision of these inmates were conducted by members of your office. Defense counsel in
the above referenced cases has requested that we provide any discoverable and/or exculpatory
evidence that was uncovered during those reviews. In order to comply with our constitutional
and statutory duties, we will need to review any reports, memoranda, and recordings that were
generated as a part of these reviews. I’m asking that you provide us with these materials by
Friday, April 27, so that we may conduct this review in a timely fashion. This will allow us to
determine what, if any, materials should be disclosed to defense counsel, as a part of our ethical
duty per Brady v. Maryland.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Feel free to contact me should you
have any questions or concerns.
Sincerel
‘James P. Fisher
Commonwealth's Attorney for
Fauquier County