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Virginia Pretrial Release Faces Scrutiny After Mall Toddler Abduction Attempt

His release on recognizance days before the July 18 incident has prompted calls for overhaul of Virginia’s pretrial bail policies.

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Overview

  • On July 18 at Fair Oaks Mall, 26-year-old Andres Caceres Jaldin grabbed a three-year-old who had wandered from an indoor play area before her mother intervened.
  • He fled in a stolen vehicle and was arrested shortly afterward at an Extended Stay Hotel in Chantilly, and he faces charges of abduction of a minor and grand larceny.
  • Court records reveal that Jaldin was released without bail on unrelated felony charges just days before the attempted abduction.
  • A court-ordered psychiatric evaluation diagnosed him with schizophrenia, underscoring complexities around mental health in legal proceedings.
  • Police-released CCTV footage of the incident has intensified public debate over child safety measures and judicial oversight of repeat offenders.