A Virginia judge ruled on Monday that a male student at Loudoun County’s Stone Bridge High School is guilty of sexually assaulting a female student in a girls’ bathroom in May.
While gender fluidity was not raised during the hearing, court documents confirm the male suspect was wearing a skirt when the assault took place, reports Yahoo! News, adding that the female victim testified in court that she was violently coerced into performing sexual acts.
“Dr. Scott A. Ziegler was appointed the Superintendent for Loudoun County Public Schools on June 8, 2021. Ziegler has served as LCPS’ interim superintendent since January 1 when he was appointed to succeed Dr. Eric Williams.” (LCPS)
Protesters and activists stand at attention as the national anthem is sung to open a Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) board meeting in Ashburn, Virginia on October 12, 2021. – Loudoun county school board meetings have become tense recently with parents clashing with board members over transgender issues, the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Covid-19 mandates. Recently tensions between groups of parents and the school board increased after parents say an allegedly transgender individual assaulted a girl at one of the schools. Earlier this month US Attorney General Merrick Garland directed federal authorities to hold strategy sessions in the next month with law enforcement to address the increasing threats targeting school board members, teachers and other employees in the nation’s public schools. This in response to a request from the National School Boards Association asking US President Joe Biden for federal assistance to investigate and stop threats made over policies including mask mandates, likening the vitriol to a form of domestic terrorism. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)
Protesters and activists hold signs as they stand outside a Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) board meeting in Ashburn, Virginia on October 12, 2021. – Loudoun county school board meetings have become tense recently with parents clashing with board members over transgender issues, the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Covid-19 mandates. Recently tensions between groups of parents and the school board increased after parents say an allegedly transgender individual assaulted a girl at one of the schools. Earlier this month US Attorney General Merrick Garland directed federal authorities to hold strategy sessions in the next month with law enforcement to address the increasing threats targeting school board members, teachers and other employees in the nation’s public schools. This in response to a request from the National School Boards Association asking US President Joe Biden for federal assistance to investigate and stop threats made over policies including mask mandates, likening the vitriol to a form of domestic terrorism. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)
The male student, a 14-year-old boy, was later arrested in connection to the case on two counts of forcible sodomy, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said, according to a report by WUSA9.
The teen suspect was found guilty on all charges, reports WJLA 7News I-Team. Sentencing for the student will happen in November, but only after a Loudon County Judge determines the outcome of the second set of charges against the same student involving sexual battery at Broad Run High School.
After the assault at Stone Bridge High School, the male student was transferred to Broad Run, where he allegedly assaulted a second female student in early October.
The victim’s family attorney, Bill Stanley of The Stanley Law Group, released a statement on behalf of the family on Monday, stating, “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,” the statement added.
The statement continued:
“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 Smith’s 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.”
Around the time of the sexual assault in the girls’ bathroom, the Loudoun County School Board was concerning itself with a policy that would give students who believe they are the opposite sex access to school facilities, groups, and sports teams of their biological counterparts.
In June, Scott Smith, the father of the victim, went to a Loudoun County school board meeting looking for answers after his daughter was assaulted. A heated exchange ensued at the meeting, and Smith was arrested for obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct.
Hundreds of parents were also present to voice their concerns about the district’s transgender policy and Critical Race Theory (CRT). The school board eventually voted 7-2 to approve the transgender-related policy.
Earlier this month, Scott Ziegler, the superintendent of the embattled Loudoun County Public Schools, admitted that the school district “failed” to provide a safe environment for its students.
Ziegler’s comments were in response to local parents outraged over how reports of the two sexual assaults were handled inside schools. Following the superintendent’s statement, board member Beth Barts — who previously targeted parents who are against Critical Race Theory in schools — resigned from her position.
You can follow Alana Mastrangelo on Facebook and Twitter at @ARmastrangelo, and on Instagram.