Attorney General Miyares and Sussex Commonwealth’s Attorney Sykes have announced that a Sussex County Grand Jury has returned multiple felony indictments against four MS-13 gang members. The charges relate to the assault of Correctional Officer K. Phillip-Fields, the stabbing death of K-9 Rivan, and the stabbing of a prison inmate at Sussex I State Prison on April 2, 2024.
An investigation was conducted by the Virginia Department of Corrections in conjunction with the Sussex County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
“All loss of life is tragic. The loss of those who are the most vulnerable and defenseless even more so. The Sussex County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office values the ultimate sacrifice K-9 Rivan made and rests in knowing that his death will not be in vain,” said Sussex Commonwealth’s Attorney Regina Sykes.
Previously, with assistance from the Attorney General's Office, six MS-13 gang members were tried and convicted for a similar case where K-9 Tobi was stabbed in the lung but survived, as did his handler and another correctional officer who were also stabbed multiple times at Sussex State Prison.
The defendants were arraigned on June 12, 2024, when the Office of the Attorney General was appointed as special prosecutor alongside the Sussex Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
As prosecution is pending in Sussex Circuit Court, both offices have declined further comment.