In a dramatic legal battle, a North Carolina woman has filed a lawsuit alleging malicious prosecution and conspiracy by several individuals, including a Deputy Commonwealth Attorney and a detective. On December 31, 2025, Amy Kissinger-Stankevitz filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against Stephanie Pass, Rachel Thomas, David Bailey, Judson Collier, and Mary Chiles.
The lawsuit stems from an alleged series of retaliatory actions against Kissinger-Stankevitz following her public accusations of misconduct involving her ex-husband and others. The plaintiff claims that she was wrongfully charged with felony abduction and kidnapping of her son without probable cause. According to the complaint, this was part of a broader conspiracy to deprive her of custody rights and stifle her freedom of speech. “Defendants maliciously charged Ms. Kissinger-Stankevitz with felony abduction… without any probable cause,” states the document.
Kissinger-Stankevitz’s ordeal began in 2015 when she accused her then-husband David Bailey of domestic violence and later discovered evidence suggesting he had engaged in secret filming without consent. These revelations led to criminal charges against Bailey. However, tensions escalated when their child made allegations of abuse against Bailey during his visitation periods. Despite these serious accusations, Chesapeake officials allegedly refused to prosecute Bailey or take action against false testimonies given during court proceedings.
The plaintiff alleges that after she moved to North Carolina under a protective order preventing Bailey from contacting their son, defendants orchestrated false charges against her as retaliation for exposing misconduct on social media. She accuses Pass and Thomas of conspiring to secure a baseless arrest warrant by suppressing evidence that would have exonerated her.
Kissinger-Stankevitz seeks substantial damages for what she describes as malicious prosecution and abuse of process that have severely impacted her life both personally and professionally. The complaint requests monetary compensation totaling over $12 million for various claims including violation of constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C §1983, common law conspiracy, and retaliation.
Represented by attorney Matthew J. Weinberg from Inman & Strickler P.L.C., Kissinger-Stankevitz demands justice not only through financial restitution but also punitive measures to deter similar conduct by state actors in the future. The case is being heard under Case ID 2:25-cv-00843 with jurisdiction claimed due to diversity between parties across state lines.
Source: 225cv00843_Kissinger_Stankevitz_v_Pass_Complaint_Eastern_District_Virginia.pdf
