What share of Va. Code § 18.2-279 cases in the 8th Judicial Circuit of Virginia exceeded the sentencing guideline range?

Based on 11 Virginia sentencing records (2019–2024) for Va. Code § 18.2-279 in the 8th Judicial Circuit: 25% of sentences exceeded the guideline range, 50% were within range, and 25% were below. Note: this cell is based on a modest sample (n=11); rates carry a wider margin of error than larger cells. Source: Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission. Past patterns do not predict future outcomes. CaseParity does not provide legal advice.

How does the 8th Judicial Circuit compare to other Virginia circuits for Va. Code § 18.2-279 sentencing?

In the 8th Judicial Circuit of Virginia, 25% of Va. Code § 18.2-279 sentences exceeded the guideline range (2019–2024). This is one point in the documented range across the 16 Virginia circuits reporting at least 30 records for this offense. Source: Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission. Past patterns do not predict future results in any individual case.

Virginia public records · 2019–2024 · Va. Code § 18.2-279

What the Virginia sentencing record shows for Discharging firearms or missiles within or at building or dwelling house in the 8th Judicial Circuit

11 sentencing records from the 8th Judicial Circuit (2019–2024) with Va. Code § 18.2-279 as the primary offense.

Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission data · 2019–2024 · Guideline compliance · Primary offenses only

How Va. Code § 18.2-279 sentences compared to the guidelines in the 8th Judicial Circuit

Above guideline range

25%

Record count

VA circuits reporting

16 of 31

Small sample (11 records). The rates shown are based on a modest number of records and carry a wider margin of error than cells with 100+ records. Interpret with appropriate caution.

Guideline compliance — 8th Judicial Circuit

Above guideline rangeEffective sentence exceeded gl_high_months

25%

Within guideline rangeEffective sentence between gl_low and gl_high

50%

Below guideline rangeEffective sentence below gl_low_months

25%

Based on 8 of 11 guideline-eligible records · effective sentence reconstructed (fully-suspended = 0 months) · guideline range per Va. Code § 19.2-298.01 · primary offenses only

How these rates are computed

Guideline-compliance rates use the reconstructed effective sentence: a fully-suspended sentence counts as 0 months (below the guideline range), never as a missing value. This matches the methodology of the full CaseParity report and prevents overstating the share of sentences at or above the guideline range. Rates are computed only over records with a guideline range on file.

This page groups records by the exact code section as recorded, including subsection variants. A purchased report analyzes at the base-section level, so its cohort scope can differ slightly from this page.

How long were the sentences

Median effective sentence

1.2 yr

Middle 50% (IQR)

4.5 mo – 2.3 yr

Plea rate

27.3%

Effective sentence = active time to serve, reconstructed (a fully-suspended sentence counts as 0 months). Half of records fall inside the IQR range. Plea rate = share of records with a plea agreement.

What this page does not tell you

It does not tell you why a sentence fell above or below the range: plea posture, offense specifics and criminal history all move it, and none are in the aggregate record.

How the 8th Judicial Circuit compares with the rest of Virginia

In the 8th Judicial Circuit, 25% of Va. Code § 18.2-279 sentences exceeded the guideline range. That ranks 5th of 16 Virginia circuits reporting at least 10 records for Va. Code § 18.2-279. Across those circuits the above-guideline rate runs 0% to 54.5%, median 19.8%. Within-Virginia variation in the public record, not a comparison of judicial practices or a prediction.

Circuit 8

25%

Bar width = above-guideline rate (0–100 %) · 16 circuits with ≥ 10 records · 2019–2024

Within-Virginia variation in the public record — not a comparison of judicial practices or a prediction about any individual case.

The full report goes deeper

Statute text as of the offense date, version-aware sourcing, and the full guideline compliance breakdown — one report, verified against primary sources.

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The statute

Read the current text of Va. Code § 18.2-279 at law.lis.virginia.gov. Statutes are amended; check the version in effect on the offense date. Va. Code § 18.2-279 at law.lis.virginia.gov →

Counties & cities in the 8th Judicial Circuit

Hampton (City)

Other code sections in the 8th Judicial Circuit

Possession of controlled substances unlawful Entering dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit larceny, assault and battery or other felony (statutory burglary)Possession of controlled substances unlawful Concealing or taking possession of merchandise Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance prohibited

CaseParity · Virginia · 8th Judicial Circuit · Va. Code § 18.2-279

25%above guideline range

11 Virginia sentencing records (2019–2024) for Va. Code § 18.2-279 in the 8th Judicial Circuit. One point in the documented range across 16 qualifying circuits. Within-Virginia comparison only.

Source: Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission · guideline range per Va. Code § 19.2-298.01 · documented outcomes, not a prediction

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Shared posts carry their source and a note that CaseParity publishes public records — not legal advice.

CaseParity takes no position on sentencing policy. We do not advocate for longer sentences or shorter ones. We do not favor any party, any side, or any outcome. We publish the record.

Past sentencing patterns do not predict future outcomes in any individual case. CaseParity does not recommend litigation strategy, plea decisions, sentencing positions, or appellate arguments. Sentencing outcomes reflect many factors not captured in structured public records.

CaseParity is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Statistics are computed from anonymized public sentencing records and describe historical patterns only. They do not predict outcomes in any individual case. Source: Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission. Guideline range per Va. Code § 19.2-298.01. Primary offenses only.

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