A judge in Fairfax County has allowed a former teacher facing 20 counts of child pornography to be released on bail, despite the objections of a prosecutor backed by Soros. Judge Michael Devine’s decision to release the teacher, Matthew Thorsen, has raised concerns and was highlighted by the local independent journalist Virginians for Safe Communities (VSC), as confirmed by various county officials.
VSC expressed strong disapproval regarding the judge’s ruling, commenting that “Fairfax’s justice system and schools are sick.” Thorsen, a 38-year-old high school math teacher, was arrested just days after the police received reports of his inappropriate conduct with a minor.
Following the allegations, Fairfax County Public Schools placed Thorsen on administrative leave. At the time of his arrest on June 4, he was charged with three counts of Indecent Liberties by Custodian and Using a Communication Device to Solicit a Minor, and he was initially held without bond.
Current court records indicate Thorsen now faces seven counts of possessing child pornography in the General District Court, along with 13 additional charges in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. The Adult Detention Center in Fairfax mentioned that Thorsen’s release process had started, but they could not confirm when he would leave custody.
As his case is still ongoing, with preliminary hearings lined up for later this September and November, a spokesperson for Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano stated that their objections to the bond had been quite strong during the recent hearing. Yet, when the judge decided to release him, they had requested monitoring conditions, which the judge denied.
VSC pointed out that even Descano’s opposition to the release underscores its troubling nature. They tweeted about the situation, expressing their outrage that Thorsen was freed without GPS monitoring, despite facing serious allegations.
VSC also noted that Judge Devine, who recently received an eight-year reappointment, is known for being lenient towards sex offenders. Moreover, reports have highlighted instances where suspects in Fairfax County had charges dismissed only to later be involved in significant crimes, such as rape and murder.
Descano has also come under scrutiny from the Department of Justice for allegedly providing leniency to illegal immigrants, particularly after violent crimes were committed by individuals released without being handed over to immigration authorities for potential deportation. He was elected in 2020, largely due to approximately $600,000 in campaign contributions from a George Soros-funded PAC, and has faced two recall attempts already.
