Rochester man sentenced for car chase through Loudoun County

On May 23, 2024, Justin Connor appeared before the Loudoun County Circuit Court, for sentencing on one count of felony eluding, one count of felony driving while intoxicated resulting in the maiming of another, one count of driving without a license, one count of falsely identifying self to law enforcement, one count of reckless endangerment, one count of inadequate animal care, and one count of cruelty to animals.

The Honorable Matthew P. Snow sentenced Connor to serve seven years and three months in prison.

At approximately 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 22, 2023, Loudoun County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an unconscious male in a pickup truck parked at a gas pump in Sterling. Upon arrival, they observed Justin Connor and a female passenger, unconscious in a black pickup truck. They had a dog in the backseat. Sheriff’s deputies knocked on the vehicle’s window until the occupants awoke, and when asked to lower the windows of the vehicle, Connor instead fled in the truck, nearly striking the deputies.

Despite being pursued by several Loudoun County Sheriff’s cruisers, Connor refused to stop and raced down Sterling Boulevard at a high rate of speed, eventually crossing into oncoming traffic, striking several vehicles, and overturning his own, severely injuring the female passenger in Connor’s truck, and ejecting the dog in the process.

After a trial, a Loudoun County jury found Connor guilty of seven charges on Feb. 14, 2024. The matter was continued to May 23, 2024, for sentencing.

During the sentencing hearing, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Jordan Ferbrache and Patrick Stewart argued that Connor’s actions showed a disregard for the lives of others, and that Connor did not express any remorse for his actions.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Bob Anderson said, “We are grateful to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office for their professionalism in bringing this dangerous encounter with Connor to a swift and just end.”