CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Virginia State Trooper Logan Pingley pled no contest on Friday morning in Albemarle County Circuit Court to a felony charge of leaving threatening notes on a neighbor’s door in November 2004. Under the terms of his plea arrangement, Pingley was sentenced to four months of probation, 60 hours of community service and he must pay court costs. He also must submit a letter of apology to Salina Pinhero, a woman who lived in the apartment where he left the notes.

If he meets the requirements of the deal, the charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor after four months.

The 31-year-old Pingley, and his attorney, Brady Nicks, declined to comment following Friday’s proceeding.

Roanoke Commonwealth’s Attorney John McNeil Jr., who prosecuted the case, told Cville Right Now that agreement brings “a measure of justice” in the matter.

But Jeff Fogel, attorney for the victim – Salina Pinhero – told Cville Right Now his client is considering a civil case against Pingley. Pinhero lived in the apartment with the intended target of the notes, Martin Howard, who Pingley suspected of criminal activity.

“It’s quite egregious when you think about a law enforcement officer taking the law into his own hands,” Fogel said. “Everybody knows what happens if the police suspect somebody – they arrest them and put them on trial, eventually. Instead, he decided to intimidate Mr. Howard.

On June 2, 2025, Pingley was indicted on one felony charge of extortion in writing after leaving a threatening note on Pinero’s door in November 2024.

Pinhero told Cville Right Now in June that her boyfriend found a note on her apartment door shortly after 9 p.m. on Nov. 8, 2024, that read, “You’re not safe here” and “F— around and find out.” The couple reviewed doorbell video footage, then contacted the Albemarle County Police Department.

She said she did not recognize the man on the security video, but added her boyfriend, Howard, had seen him around the neighborhood.

Police identified and then charged Pingley, who was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of his case and an internal investigation by the VSP Professional Standards Division. He was arrested on June 4, 2025.

During an April evidentiary hearing, Pingley’s attorney – Nicks – told the court he planned to introduce evidence that the note was a warning to a neighbor who had been driving recklessly through Pingley’s Woodlands of Charlottesville apartment complex and who Pingley and other officers who lived there suspected was involved in other criminal activity.

McNeil told the court he believed Pingley’s intention was to “intimidate” not “threaten” Howard with the notes.

“He wanted to put a fear into him,” McNeil told Judge Cheryl Higgins. McNeil said that, while he has spoken with Pinhero and she was supportive of the agreement. He said he has not spoken with Howard, who he said has been arrested on unrelated charges.

McNeil noted that Pingley has “lived a life of public service,” but acknowledged that, as a state trooper, Pingley “frankly should have known better.”

Higgins accepted the plea deal and warned Pingley that violation of the agreement would lead to him being sentenced to the original felony charge. Higgins said that charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $2,500 fine. She set an Oct. 30 court date to review Pingley’s case.