Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales is seeking a third full term, and she faces two well known challengers who maintain that her office has made too many mistakes. Local attorneys Nathan Chapman and Steve Heretick are challenging the 41-year-old chief prosecutor, who’s running as a Democrat. Chapman, 55, and Heretick, 65, are on the ballot as independents. Chapman is running for elected office for the first time, while Heretick has served as a Portsmouth City Council member and state delegate. In Morales’ tenure, multiple cases have been dismissed by judges, including some murder cases, because of mistakes the office has made, such as missing filing deadlines or failing to provide required information to the defense. Among them was a murder case thrown out last year after a judge ruled prosecutors had violated the defendant’s right to a speedy trial. All charges against a man accused of killing four people at a Portsmouth boarding house also were tossed last year after a judge determined prosecutors failed to provide enough evidence to take it to trial. In 2023, multiple charges of child abuse, neglect and cruelty filed against an illegal home daycare operator accused of causing several children to be injured in a fire when she left them alone to go to the store were dropped after a judge determined prosecutors had failed to properly provide required information to the defense. Morales’ staff currently has about half as many prosecutors as it’s funded to have, and two of her prosecutors had their law license suspended multiple times. “The staffing issue is a very serious problem,” Chapman said. “She can’t get people to work there because the office’s reputation is so bad. And as a result of that, the staff that is there is forced to do way more than they should be doing, and that leads to mistakes.” While Morales said “staffing challenges” are a problem for many chief prosecutors, all the other commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Hampton Roads are either fully, or nearly fully, staffed. The office has been working to improve recruitment and retention through training, mentorship, and partnerships with law schools, she said. As for the dismissed cases and losses at trial, Morales said she and her staff are taking steps to improve and strengthen their prosecutions. “As with any public institution, continuous improvement is essential. We are consistently working to strengthen internal systems, enhance training, and expand the tools available to our attorneys and staff,” she wrote in an email. “Our focus is on streamlining case preparation, upgrading technology, and improving workflow efficiency to ensure every case receives the attention it deserves. We’ve already begun implementing measures to improve communication and case tracking, and I remain committed to assessing our performance and making the necessary adjustments to best serve the people of Portsmouth.” Heretick said the kind of mistakes that have been made are inexcusable. “These are very basic mistakes that should never happen,” he said. “No other commonwealth’s attorney’s office in the state is seeing these kind of dismissals. The fact that they happen at all — much less chronically — is a testament to how she’s failing to run her office.” Morales said she stands by her staff and is pleased with the dedication and hard work they put into their cases. “I remain proud of the professionalism and dedication of my team,” she wrote. “Prosecutors must handle complex cases with precision, and while outcomes may vary, we will never compromise our duty to pursue justice ethically and responsibly. Allegations of unpreparedness do not reflect the reality of the commitment and hard work demonstrated daily by the members of my office.” As for endorsements, Chapman’s supporters include the local Fraternal Order of Police and Police Benevolent Association, while Heretick has been endorsed by several current and former local politicians, including Vice Mayor Bill Moody, former Vice Mayor Elizabeth Psimas, former councilman Ray Smith, and former sheriffs, Bill Watson and Gary Waters. Morales has the support of some of the state’s top political leaders, including Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, Sen. Louise Lucas and U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott. In the contributions race, Morales is leading, with more than $97,000 collected this year, according to Virginia Public Access Project. Heretick, who didn’t join the race until May, is close behind with $87,000 received in less than six months. Chapman, who entered the race shortly before Heretick, has garnered $21,000. Chapman and Heretick said their first priority will be getting the office fully staffed. Both also want to work on rebuilding the office’s relationship with police, the community, and other law enforcement agencies. “Portsmouth has a reputation as a dangerous city and we’ve got to address that,” Heretick said. “It keeps us from being a full economic partner in Hampton Roads.” Chapman said he would seek to have staff and resources dedicated to seizing assets from convicted criminals, investigating cold cases, prosecuting gangs. Seeking solutions to violence among juveniles, which he said is extremely high in Portsmouth, is another top priority. “These are all things that are being done by other prosecutors’ offices that aren’t being done here,” he said. As for her goals if elected to another term, Morales said she would work to expand crime prevention programs, increase support for victims and survivors, and enhance case management with improved technology and data systems. Chapman believes his longtime experience handling criminal cases, his knowledge, dedication, commitment and temperament make him the best candidate for the job. Heretick cited his longtime experience prosecuting and defending criminal cases at the federal and state level, and experience in running an office, as reasons voters should choose him. Morales believes her record, and her resolve to hold people accountable under the law, while also protecting people civil rights and safety, and her support for statewide criminal justice reforms make her the best choice. Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com
