Poe transferred to Prince William-Manassas Jail

Like the two EDA-related inmates before him, Donald F. Poe has been transferred to an out of community jail facility. As in Michelle Henry’s case, Poe was sent to the Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center, pictured here from its website.

Rappahannock-Shenandoah-Warren County Regional Jail (RSW Jail) Superintendent Russ Gilkison has confirmed the transfer of inmate Donald F. Poe to the Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center. The transfer occurred mid-day Wednesday, July 24.

The previous day Poe became the third person indicted by a Warren County Special Grand Jury investigating potential criminality tied to the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority financial fraud investigation and consequent civil litigation filed March 26.

Gilkison said the transfer out of the tri-county jail in northern Warren County was made for similar reasons as previous EDA-related inmates Jennifer McDonald and Michelle Henry. Those reasons revolve around the high-profile nature locally of the EDA financial scandal, as well as of the people potentially involved directly or indirectly. The transfer out of community minimizes the potential of personal contacts within the facility with people with possible personal connections to involved parties.

And like Henry who had several relatives in various aspects of local law enforcement here, Poe has one in the near past and potentially near future. That one is Poe’s son Jason, who left the Warren County Sheriff’s Office in 2017 for a position in the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office; and who is currently campaigning for Warren County Sheriff in what is a four-way race toward the November ballot.

Gilkison also verified that the 60-year-old Poe is scheduled back in Warren County on Wednesday, July 31, for a bond hearing. The other two people thus far arrested on criminal charges related to the EDA civil litigation, McDonald and Henry, will also be in Warren County Circuit Court that day on motions hearings.

On Wednesday, July 31, the Warren County Courthouse will host hearings for the three people thus far charged criminally related to the EDA civil litigation. Royal Examiner File Photo/Roger Bianchini

Twice denied bond by Judge Clifford L. Athey Jr. as a flight risk, McDonald remains jailed in Fairfax County. She was arrested by Virginia State Police on four sealed grand jury indictments on May 24. She has since been served with 10 additional felony warrants related to the EDA financial fraud investigation.

After two bond hearing continuations following her June 24 arrest by VSP, Henry was granted $2500 secured bond by Judge Bruce D. Albertson on July 23, the same day Poe was arrested. Due to recusals and pending vacancies in the local circuit court bench, hearings on EDA-related matters are currently only being heard by the Harrisonburg-based Albertson, who is Chief 26th District Presiding Judge.

Henry freed on $2,500 secured bond in EDA case; McDonald hearing July 31

Had Henry not been granted bond on Tuesday her attorney was prepared to argue for a transfer out of the Prince William-Manassas Jail due to a very restrictive inmate visitation schedule, distance from family in this community, and even limited access for attorneys to their clients housed there.

Donald F. Poe following his July 23 booking into RSW – Photo RSW Jail website