Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) –Commonwealth’s Attorney Joe Platania, spoke about holiday crime trends, noting, “With the colder weather, what we see is people being inside more so, we tend to see a decline in some of the violent crime, in the shootings. But I think around the holidays, you know, lock your car, keep packages off your porch, don’t drink and drive.” He emphasized that while mental health issues may rise during the holidays, it doesn’t necessarily correlate directly with an increase or decrease in crime.

Regarding a recent high-profile case, Platania commented on the sentencing of 20-year-old Eric Dweh, who received a five-year active prison sentence for a shooting incident involving multiple individuals on a basketball court. Platania remarked, “A five-year active prison sentence for a 20-year-old is extremely significant in my opinion. It is a very long sentence for a 20-year-old… We advocated for it and felt it was appropriate.”

Addressing recent law enforcement operations in the Prospect neighborhood that resulted in the seizure of illegal firearm modifications and equipment, Platania stressed the growing concerns about public safety. “We have not seen the firepower on the streets that we’re seeing now with these assault weapons and ability to extend magazines and make them fully automatic. So, it’s concerning to the law enforcement officials that are out there patrolling the streets, and the citizens.”

Platania concluded by committing to ongoing cooperation among local, state, and federal agencies, emphasizing that community safety remains a priority and that efforts will focus on addressing crimes involving firearms efficiently and transparently. 

Listen here for the full conversation: