Charges Dropped For Soldier Accused Of Stealing Pride Flags: Court

ARLINGTON, VA — An Arlington County General District Court judge dismissed hate crime charges against a soldier who was arrested last February for stealing Pride flags from an Arlington home, according to court records.

Matthew Henshaw, 20, of Fort Myer, was arrested and charged with several counts of petit larceny and bias-motivated unlawful entry in connection with the thefts. Authorities also arrested and charged Joseph Digregorio, 23, of Bay Shore, New York, with one count of petit larceny, police said.

Between September 2023 and January 2024, the Arlington County Police Department received five reports of thefts in the 200 block of South Courthouse Road. In each incident, police said a male suspect approached the property during the early morning hours and stole a Pride flag from outside the home before fleeing.

After their arrest, Henshaw and Digregorio agreed to participate in a restorative justice program instead of going to trial, according to a WUSA report. As part of the program, Henshaw agreed to meet with counselors, as well Jenna Burnett and Michelle Logan, the two women whose Pride flags had been stolen.

On Dec. 23, the case against Henshaw and Digregorio was dropped, according to court records.

“We can’t say for sure if this ultimately changed their opinions or that they wouldn’t commit this level of harm again, but this offered us a chance to show them that we’re people too in a way a few hours in a courtroom just couldn’t,” Logan told WUSA.