Teen convicted in 2 Loudoun schools sex assaults sentenced to 'locked residential program'
ASHBURN, Va. (7News) — A 15-year-old boy convicted of two sex assaults at two separate Loudoun County Public Schools was sentenced to complete a "residential program in a locked-down facility" and will be on supervised probation until he's 18 years old.
The teen must also register as a sex offender in Virginia for the rest of his life.
Loudoun County Juvenile Judge Court Judge Pamela L. Brooks found him guilty on all four charges.
During his sentencing hearing, the teen had to listen to both of his victims and their families read victim impact statements. He was dressed in a short-sleeved green shirt pulled over a long-sleeved white shirt. Wearing tan pants, white tennis shoes, a black mask and he wore his hair in a ponytail.
He spent most of his time staring down at top of the defense table. Both victims and their families were in the courtroom. The 15-year-old boy's parents also attended the sentencing.
He did start crying as he heard from the victims and their families.
"One victim took the stand and said "I believe you belong in a program that can help you. I met the other amazing girl. There is a third victim. I am still here and I am a better person".
The second victim wrote "Why me? Did I look like an easy target to you? I thought of you as a friend. What you did to me will change me forever. Did I look like a girl who wouldn't say anything? I am glad I spoke out."
The judge, who read the teen's psychology exam, said "You scare me. What I read in those reports scared me and should scare families and scare society. You need a lot of help."
RELATED | Report on how Loudoun Co. schools handled sexual assaults won't be released to public
The teen sentenced spoke to the two victims in court, "I sincerely apologize to you and you. I know I have hurt some of the people in this court room and they will be scarred for life. I would sincerely like to apologize to the court and the families and the victims. I will take full advantage of the program so I don't hurt anyone again. I know what I did was wrong. I will never hurt anyone like this again."
Both parents of the two victims also spoke on the witness stand.
“I didn’t come to play. That boy needed to know what he did was wrong. I made sure I looked him dead in the eye," said Scott Smith, father to one of the victims.
The victims and their parents asked the judge to place him in a residential treatment facility and Loudoun County Juvenile Court Judge Pamela L. Brooks agreed.
Judge Brooks told the teen she had read his psychology reports and said "You scared me. What I read in those reports scared me and I'm scared for you, scared for families, and scared for society".
The judge did mention in her comments from the bench she was aware of a 3rd victim. That teen and her family have not come forward.
Brooks also praised the victims for coming forward.
"I thank you for your bravery for coming forward. By speaking out as you said in the victim's impact statement you are protecting many other girls. You were very brave to come to court today," said Judge Brooks.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that a sexual assault took place in a bathroom at Stone Bridge High School on May 28, 2021. They said that they arrested a 14-year-old boy in the case. It took place approximately one month before Scott Smith’s arrest at the school board meeting. Smith is the father of the female victim.
SEE ALSO | Teen suspect found guilty in Loudoun County school bathroom assault
And the problems on school property weren't limited to Stone Bridge. On Oct. 6th, a Sheriff’s Department tweet detailed another alleged assault by the same student at Broad Run High School.
All of that led to hundreds of parents' upset at multiple school board meetings on how the District handled its investigation into the initial assault.
On Tuesday, an independent report on how Loudoun County Public Schools handled sexual assaults in two different high schools was completed, but district officials won’t release the report to the public.
Wayde Byard with LCPS cited Virginia Code and attorney-client privilege for withholding the information.
Byard's email to 7 News:
"The report is complete. It is being withheld from disclosure in its entirety under Va. Code 2.2-3705.1(2) relating to materials protected under the attorney client privilege. Furthermore, portions of the record are being withheld from disclosure under. Code 2.2-3705.4(A)(1) relating to scholastic information and Va. Code 2.2-3705.1(1) relating to personnel information concerning identifiable individuals."
Wayde B. Byard
Public Information Officer
Communications & Community Engagement
Loudoun County Public Schools
Here are links to the Virginia laws being cited by the District:
“Of course, they are not going to release what happened. What happened is horrific. There are so many high-up players involved in this cover-up. It’s just unbelievable," says Scott Smith.
7 News is planning on challenging the District's decision on not making the report public.
Loudoun County Public Schools superintendent Dr. Scott Ziegler responded to outraged parents in October. In a statement, Ziegler said although the schools complied with obligations under Title IX about how schools must investigate allegations of sexual harassment and assault in schools so it equally protects both victims and alleged perpetrators, it wasn't enough.
READ MORE | 'You guys failed': Talks of multiple sexual assaults dominate Loudoun school board meeting
"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," he said during a 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."
