Virginia Pinto, the woman captured in a video passionately kissing a married Maryland police officer, Francesco Marlett, in public before joining him in the back of his squad car, has openly spoken about their relationship and remains unapologetic despite the scandal.
Pinto clarified that her connection with now-suspended Prince George’s County Police officer Francesco Marlett was not a fleeting encounter; instead, they had been involved for approximately two years. She emphasized that this was not a one-night stand, stating, “That’s the main story – that this isn’t a little thing.” Pinto acknowledged that the situation looks unfavorable due to Marlett’s profession but insisted that it was essential to understand the context of their relationship.
Despite the widespread attention the scandal garnered, Pinto, an Army veteran, appeared composed and unperturbed while discussing it. She expressed her perspective, saying, “What’s so exciting? He’s a cop. I’m a civilian. We got caught. It sucks, but this will pass.” Pinto continued to maintain her composure, asserting that she has done nothing wrong and that she plans to carry on with her life.
In response to the scandal, Marlett’s wife, Paula, expressed her strong opinions on the matter. In a statement to The Post, she described Virginia Pinto’s involvement as a result of her husband leaving her due to her alleged infidelity. Paula accused Pinto of inserting herself into others’ affairs and suggested that Marlett used her for sexual relations because she was easily influenced. She also claimed that Pinto made false accusations about their marriage but acknowledged that all marriages experience rough patches.
The scandal came to light through a 47-second video in which Pinto and a uniformed Marlett were seen kissing and engaging in heavy petting next to his squad car near a park adjacent to Oxon Hill High School. The two later entered the squad car and remained inside for approximately 40 minutes before departing separately. A second video also emerged, showing Pinto entering a Prince George’s County Police cruiser on a separate occasion.
After Paula publicly called out Pinto on Facebook for her involvement, Pinto responded with her own post, accusing Paula of infidelity but declining to provide further details when pressed for information. She suggested that there were no villains in this situation and that it shed light on the imperfections in marriages.
Marlett had previously faced suspensions in May and 2016, the former related to allegations of domestic violence. However, both allegations were ultimately ruled unfounded by the Prince George’s County Police Internal Affairs Division. Pinto acknowledged Marlett’s past incidents but affirmed that they did not affect her feelings for him. She refrained from speculating on their future together.
The Prince George’s County Police acknowledged both videos and reiterated their ongoing investigation into Marlett’s conduct. Chief Malik Aziz expressed the agency’s commitment to upholding high standards of behavior for its officers and ensuring that the matter was taken extremely seriously.
