Loudoun County student accused in sexual assaults at two county schools, sparking outrage from paren

[Jilly_in_VA]

A teen accused of sexually assaulting a fellow student at a Loudoun County high school in May is also accused in a second sexual assault less than five months later at another county high school, according to the Loudoun County commonwealth’s attorney.

The dual allegations sparked anger from parents who showed up at a school board meeting Tuesday night and blasted school officials for their handling of the incidents and the student’s enrollment in a new school after the first allegation.

Some parents who spoke at the meeting grew emotional, saying they feared for the safety of their children in Loudoun County Public Schools. Still others called for the resignation of Superintendent Scott A. Ziegler and of the school board.

Loudoun schools spokesman Wayde Byard on Wednesday said the district cannot comment on the alleged student transfer because of state and federal privacy laws protecting student records.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/loudoun-schools-sex-assault-allegations/2021/10/13/02d3f144-2c61-11ec-8ef6-3ca8fe943a92_story.html
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What should be done with kids like this? Obviously transferring them isn't the answer. He's 15. Opinions?

[multigraincracker]

1. No longer have Reform Schools?

Back in the day.....

[LakeArenal]

2. An institutional detention center.

He needs help. If he were an adult he’d be on a public list sexual offenders.

[chia]

3. Not questioning the assaults, but I am questioning the story that he was wearing a skirt. Anyone

know if there's proof he was wearing a skirt? For parents fighting the school's trans policies a skirt would be like a red cape in front of a bull, but the assault happened in May before the school's policy change in August, if I've got my info correct.

[Jilly_in_VA]

5. That's not in this story

so I assume you've seen other stories, which are all pretty inflammatory. Want to clarify?

[chia]

19. But it is part of the story. I don't want it used by the right to further their anti-trans agenda

Especially if it’s not true. I haven’t seen anything official regarding it.

[janterry]

9. so far, everything the victim's father has said is true

he says the assault occurred in the girls bathroom by a student that says they are gender fluid and was wearing a skirt.

I don't see any reason for the victim to lie.

Honestly, I'm really shocked by this. As I wrote, I've worked with very dangerous kids (more than a few). The psychopathology of this - and once he was transferred to another school he tried again (held the girl against her will, sexually assaulted her).

I think this kid needs to be locked up for a long time. With treatment. But locked treatment.

[chia]

20. I don't either, but did the victim actually say that, that's what I don't know. I agree with

your post entirely, regardless.

[janterry]

21. That is precisely what is alleged in the Smith's Title IX lawsuit

Last edited Fri Oct 15, 2021, 12:10 PM - Edit history (1)

"Attorneys for the family of the Stone Bridge High School student who was sexually assaulted in the girls’ restroom on May 28 by a boy claiming to be ‘gender fluid’ today announced they will pursue legal actions against Loudoun County under the provisions of Title IX," a press release Thursday.

https://wjla.com/news/local/scott-smith-alleged-sexual-assault-loudoun-county-public-school-board-stanley-law-group-of-virginia-lawsuit

Interestingly (well, shockingly) I see on twitter that the County had another incident with a group of boys who attacked another boy (sexually, using an object) two years earlier. These are such young ages to be doing such things. As I said downthread, I've worked with kids who have done very dangerous things (including murder). But to attack someone at school. And do that? That's really frightening (for the other kids, obviously - but also for the attackers. I mean......what is ahead when you do that in your teens

[Jilly_in_VA]

4. My personal preference

would have been inpatient psych treatment after the first offense. I am in receipt of some links from another DUer that I won't share because they are sort of inflammatory (he can share them if he wishes) and it seems to me that the offender is definitely a troubled kid.

[janterry]

7. This is a VERY disturbed person

And dangerous. I've worked with kids on inpatient units. I can say for sure that they would want the teen charged for this. I mean - forced sodomy of a 14 year old - in a school. And BOTH incidents were relatively public (in the girls bathroom - in school; in an empty classroom - in school).

This is a very dangerous kid.

[Jilly_in_VA]

8. I agree

and I couldn't believe they let him run around with an electronic monitor just because he and the first girl had some kind of "previous relationship". Assault is assault. It takes forever to recover from. BTDT.

[janterry]

10. they almost blamed her

they said it was 'complicated' but the second assault was not 'complicated'

For sure, given what we now know - they got it wrong

[Irish_Dem]

11. Too much liability for a hospital, and not fair to staff and patients.

[Jilly_in_VA]

12. Juvenile detention

will only make him worse. Bet on it. Locked psych unit with trained personnel.

[Irish_Dem]

13. Most pediatric inpatient psych units are not equipped to deal with kids who are sexually violent.

A locked unit doesn't mean the patients and staff will be protected.

Most ped psych inpatient units have very well trained staff who deal with aggressive behavior all the time.
But not with sexual predators.

But that said, I suppose the teen could be placed in a locked room, with 24 hour supervision and cameras.
Male nurses and aides, or females only go in with a male aide.

It would requite additional staffing, which the hospitals hate to do.
But I suppose it could be done. Huge liability for the hospital however.
And the kid would not get the specialized treatment he needs.

There are juvi detention centers with psych staff, but I am not sure they would be able to deal with this kind of situation.

I am aware of residential treatment centers which specifically treat sexual offenders, and this is probably the best place for this child.

But it all depends upon the initial evaluation, for example, residential won't take someone acutely psychotic most likely. In that case he would have to
be staged in various clinical settings.

[janterry]

14. The kid is 15 right now

(first incident was at 14).

If they are gender fluid and identifying as female, I would think the sentence would be carried out on a teenage girl unit. I don't know how that could be safe. Extra staff - a 1:1 for the duration?

I'm not aware of any programs for teen girls that would meet this level of acuity. Certainly, it would not meet the treatment needs.

[Irish_Dem]

15. The article I read did not mention the gender issues. But yes if this is the case, it would be

a part of the treatment planning.

The pediatric sexual offender residential treatment center I am familiar with is for males only.
But perhaps there are some accommodations for gender fluidity issues.

Female sexual offender treatment centers would be less common I assume.
But if his/her victims have been female that would be a liability issue.

I would think it is important to determine exactly how the teen is identifying and comfort level with various treatment settings.

And what would be the safest option for the teen and others, staff and patients.

Yes 1:1 could be done, I know they use nursing graduate students to do that kind of work.
They sit with one psych patient for the entire shift.
My daughter actually did this kind of work while in grad school.

I think first we would have to assess the teen for psychosis, drug use, mood disorders, etc.
Treat the acute conditions first, then try to find the best sexual offender treatment program.

[janterry]

16. I don't think it could be done

IF the facts are as reported (and my understanding is the teen is going to plead guilty this week).

But if the facts are what we are told - the best place for this teen would be group treatment (that's the best treatment for sex offenders). That can't be done at a girls facility -where those crimes are not typical.

I've kicked around mental health for most of my career as a MSW (including forensic psych., prisons, juvenile detention). Even with a 1:1 24/7 (which I doubt they would keep for the duration) - the optimal treatment for the kid would not be available. They need group treatment with teens that are sexually dangerous.

I wish this kid well. I've worked with very disturbed people in my life (including a few sex offenders). It's a long, uncertain road.

And, on the optimistic side - maybe we don't have all the facts, yet. We can hope that there are some things working in their favor that we don't know about.

[Irish_Dem]

17. Right.

I am a retired PhD psychologist with 40 years clinical experience. Early in my career I did forensic --- court/jail/juvi/adult/sexual offender work.
Outpatient/emergency services/some residential. Colleagues were MSWs, LPCCs, etc.

Right, no way 1:1 can be done indefinitely. And female facility is not appropriate.

I agree, specialized adolescent sexual offender treatment in residential setting. Which offers individual and group therapy.
With accommodations for high risk teens.

But of course you are correct, there could be some other issues going on which are amenable to treatment.
Drug/alcohol/bipolar/other psychosis/intellectual deficit/ etc.

Teen could be in an abusive home, being sexually abused himself, so removal would help.

Many factors to consider, and would need a thorough professional psych evaluation.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. LCPS issues response to newly-surfaced sexual assault allegations

I thought the Loudoun Times-Mirror paywalled articles, but they let you read three for free every month.

LCPS issues response to newly-surfaced sexual assault allegations

Times-Mirror Staff Report Oct 13, 2021 Updated 1 hr ago

Updated Information (as of 1:24 p.m.)

In a text message Wednesday evening, Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj (D) confirmed to the Times-Mirror that the suspect in both the May 28 assault and the Oct. 6 assault is the same 15-year-old boy. ... He was released on supervised release program and on an electronic monitor on July 27, according to Biberaj.

Biberaj said the teenager, then 14, was charged in June for the bathroom assault after DNA samples were submitted to the Department of Forensic Science for analysis. Later, petitions and detention order was obtained, she said. ... The teenager is being held in the Juvenile Detention Center and due in court on Oct. 25.

Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) issued a statement on Thursday stating she is praying for the victims and families, and urged people to pray for all the families and all survivors of sexual assault. ... "I'm praying for the victims and their families,” Randall said in her letter.

No matter the relationships, sexual assault is a heinous crime, and one that can take a victim years to work through," she said. "There will never be a time when I don't stand with victims. ... Randall’s full statement is embedded in this article.

{snip}

[mahatmakanejeeves]

18. And here's what LCPS said: "Once a matter has been reported to law enforcement, LCPS does not ..."

Loudoun County schools have said they contacted law enforcement immediately about this, despite claims to the contrary.

Link to tweet

But kinda seems like an odd interpretation of Title IX for them to suggest that meant the
schools’ own investigation could wait until the cops were done.

Link to tweet

And here’s what LCPS said: “Once a matter has been reported to law enforcement, LCPS does not begin its investigation until law enforcement advises LCPS that it has completed the criminal investigation.”

https://loudounnow.com/2021/10/13/loudoun-school-district-issues-statement-on-alleged-sexual-assaults/

Link to tweet