Shannon Taylor Is Soft on Crime

Section 01

ONE OF VIRGINIA’S SOFTEST PROSECUTORS

The facts are clear. Shannon Taylor has a dangerous pattern of putting Virginia families at risk. Here’s the proof.

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Finding 01Public SafetyLead finding

She Cut a Deal That Let a Child Abuser Serve One Year — With No Sex Offender Registry

A Henrico man faced nine felony counts of sexually abusing a child over several years — up to 180 years in prison. Shannon Taylor cut a deal reducing all charges to misdemeanors. He served only one year in jail and was never required to register as a sex offender.

“Plea deal in sexual abuse case keeps man off offender registry.”
Richmond Times-Dispatch headline, August 20, 2014

Where Wittman differs

Nine felony counts. One year in jail. No registry. That's not a plea deal — it's a giveaway, and the child's family lives with it forever.

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch, August 20, 2014[1]On file, no link

Finding 02Public Safety

She Declined to Prosecute a Man Who Sexually Abused Nursing Home Residents

State health officials and the Virginia Board of Nursing substantiated findings that a nurse aide sexually abused two vulnerable residents — an 86-year-old woman with Alzheimer's and a 57-year-old man with brain dysfunction — at a Henrico facility in 2023. Henrico police investigated. Taylor's office declined to prosecute. Less than five months later, health officials found the same aide abused a resident at a Richmond facility.

“The ball was dropped.”
The victim's daughter, to CBS 6

Where Wittman differs

State health officials and the Board of Nursing both ruled against this aide. Shannon Taylor still couldn't stand up for the victims — and a third resident paid for it.

WTVR CBS 6, May 14, 2025[2]View source →

Finding 03Public Safety

She Negotiated a Baby-Breaker's Sentence Down to a Maximum of Three Years

A nurse who broke the bones of nine newborn babies in Henrico's NICU faced up to 45 years in prison. Shannon Taylor negotiated the sentence down to a maximum of three years.

Where Wittman differs

Nine newborns with broken bones. Forty-five years on the table. Taylor settled for three. There is no universe where that's justice for those babies.

Source: WTVR CBS 6, 2026 coverage of the Henrico NICU case[3]On file, no link

Finding 04Law Enforcement

Taylor Fired 7 Career Prosecutors for Not Fitting Her Diversity Mold

A 2015 Richmond Times-Dispatch editorial reported that on entering office Taylor promptly fired seven career prosecutors with more than 150 years of combined experience, quoting her explanation that she had made a promise the office would have diversity.

“Close to a confession she fired people because they belonged to the wrong race or gender.”
Richmond Times-Dispatch editorial, October 25, 2015

Where Wittman differs

No one should lose their job because they don't fit a DEI mold. More than 150 years of courtroom experience walked out the door — experience that prosecutes violent crime.

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch editorial, October 25, 2015[4]On file, no link

Finding 05Public Safety

She Dropped Fetal Homicide Charges Against a Man Who Killed a Nine-Months-Pregnant Woman

A man stabbed his nine-months-pregnant girlfriend to death. The prior prosecutor charged capital murder for killing both mother and child. Shannon Taylor dropped the fetal homicide charges even though the mother was nine-months-pregnant — because, she said, "there were no stab wounds to the stomach."

“There were no stab wounds to the stomach.”
Shannon Taylor's reasoning for dropping the fetal homicide charge, per the victim's family — WTVR, October 5, 2012

Where Wittman differs

A mother and her full-term baby were murdered. Wittman believes both lives count. Shannon Taylor found a technicality to erase one of them.

Source: WTVR CBS 6, October 5, 2012[5]On file, no link

Finding 06Public Safety

She Argued a Rapist-Murderer's 125-Year Sentence Was Too Harsh — His Crimes Were 'Out of Character'

Don Farmer was convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman and beating a 73-year-old woman to death. A jury recommended 125 years. As his defense attorney, Shannon Taylor urged the judge to go lower, arguing the rape and murder seemed "very regretfully out of character."

“Very regretfully out of character.”
Shannon Taylor, arguing for a lesser sentence for a man convicted of rape and murder — Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 14, 2011

Where Wittman differs

Rape and murder are never 'out of character' — they define character. Wittman will never make excuses for violent predators.

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 14, 2011[6]On file, no link

Section 02

THE AGENDA SHE SIGNED

Eleven prosecutors, one plan to shrink the penalties

In 2020 Taylor was a founding member of Virginia Progressive Prosecutors for Justice — eleven elected prosecutors organized to reduce criminal penalties across the Commonwealth.

WVTF, March 16, 2025View source →

Ask 02.A

End cash bail

The group called for ending cash bail in Virginia — letting people accused of crimes walk free before trial with nothing holding them to their court date, and no financial guarantee they come back.

Source: VPPFJ press releases, Jan. 4 2020 / Mar. 8 2021On file, no link

Ask 02.B

End mandatory minimums

The group urged the General Assembly to strike mandatory minimums from state law, and in 2021 called for a full repeal of all mandatory minimums — stripping away the floor on sentences for Virginia's most serious crimes.

“A full repeal of all mandatory minimums.”

Source: VPPFJ press releases, Jan. 4 2020 / Mar. 8 2021On file, no link

Ask 02.C

Kill the repeat-larceny felony

The group sought to end the 'three strikes' felony enhancement that elevates repeat misdemeanor larceny to a felony.

“Senselessly punitive.”

Source: VPPFJ press release, Jan. 4 2020On file, no link

Ask 02.D

Automatic, free expungement

The group backed automated, automatic, and free expungement of criminal records for people previously convicted of crimes. That would wipe records clean without anyone reviewing the case — leaving employers, schools, and families in the dark about who they are trusting.

VPPFJ press release, Jan. 4 2020View source →

Ask 02.E

No license suspensions for drug convictions

The group wanted to scrap the automatic license suspension for drug convictions — removing one of the few immediate consequences drug offenders face.

VPPFJ press release, July 13 2020View source →

Section 03

THE RECEIPTS

Scans and clippings behind the findings above, reproduced without edit.

“Eleven Prosecutors Form a Progressive Alliance in Virginia”
Political Report, July 2020

VPPFJ letter to legislative leaders — Taylor listed on the letterhead
Virginia Progressive Prosecutors for Justice, March 8, 2021

The asks: end mandatory minimums, end cash bail, kill the larceny enhancement
Virginia Progressive Prosecutors for Justice, March 8, 2021

Signature page: Hon. Shannon L. Taylor, Henrico County
Virginia Progressive Prosecutors for Justice, March 8, 2021

“Nurse aide who reportedly sexually abused 3 nursing home residents never faced criminal charges”
WTVR CBS 6, May 14, 2025 / View source →