Teen suspect found guilty in Loudoun County school bathroom assault
ASHBURN, Va. (7News) — The 7News I-Team has learned that the teen suspect in a sex assault at Stone Bridge High School in Loudoun County in May has been found guilty on all charges. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department confirmed earlier this month that a sexual assault did happen inside a bathroom at Stone Bridge High School on May 28. They said in a statement Wednesday that they arrested a 14-year-old boy in the case.
The victim’s legal team, The Stanley Law Group, tells 7News that the Judge determined that there were facts sufficient that the defendant committed a forcible assault. A second attack with the same suspect was reported inside a classroom at Broad Run earlier this month after the suspect was allowed to come back to class at a different school.
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Despite the court's decision, outrage continues to build in the community. During a school board meeting on Oct. 26, parents demanded that LCPS superintendent Dr. Scott Ziegler be fired and that board members resign.
That comes on the same day that county students walked out of classrooms at Stone Bridge, Loudoun County High School, Briar Woods High School, Broad Run High School and Lightridge High School.
During the Broad Run walkout, students started chanting “Loudoun County protects rapists” and other messages. They along with hundreds of students at schools across Loudoun County walked out to show support for two students attacked by the same classmate.
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The suspect was not charged or convicted of rape.
“Why didn’t anybody tell us,” shouts a student in the crowd at Broad Run.
Scott Smith, the father of the victim, spoke to 7News investigator Scott Taylor four months after he was arrested at a Loudoun County school board meeting. He said he went there looking for answers after his daughter was assaulted.
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After a heated exchange at the meeting, Scott was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
“How could you allow this alleged sexual predator to return to a Loudoun County public school before the court was wrapped up with our court situation,” Smith told 7News.
The incident sparked outrage among Loudoun County parents who spoke out at a recent school board meeting. The incident has also received national attention and made student safety a platform for Virginia's gubernatorial race.
Sentencing on those charges will happen after a Loudoun County Judge determines the outcome of the second set of charges against the same teen which includes a sexual battery that occurred this month at Broad Run High School. That could be as early as November.
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The victim's family attorney Bill Stanley released the following statement:
“We are relieved that justice was served today for the Smith’s daughter. This horrible incident has deeply affected the Smith family, and they are grateful for today’s outcome. No one should have to endure what this family has endured, and now their focus is completely upon their daughter’s health and safety as she progresses forward with her life. She is a very smart and strong young woman, and she is deeply loved by her parents. Both Jessica and Scott Smith will continue to do everything in their power to protect her, and help her through this difficult time in her life. The Smiths' daughter is a survivor and a fighter, and we are confident that she will grow even stronger with each passing day. The Smith family wants to thank all of those in the community who have demonstrated their love and support over the past few months. The Smith family stands stronger than ever in moving forward to ensure that those responsible in the Loudoun County School system are held accountable, so that this may never happen again to anyone else’s child.”
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The schools' superintendent Dr. Scott Ziegler recently came under fire for his response to the incidents.
"First, let me say to the families and students involved — my heart aches for you and I am sorry that we failed to provide the safe, welcoming, and affirming environment that we aspire to provide," Ziegler said during an Oct. 15 press conference. "We acknowledge and share in your pain and we will continue to offer support to help you and your families through this trauma. For all of our students, our school-based Unified Mental Health Teams are available to anyone who needs care."
The family recently announced that they are pursuing a lawsuit against the schools.
Smith also wants an apology from the National School Boards Association who referred to him and other parents voicing concerns at school board meetings as "domestic terrorists."
