Incoming Virginia AG vows to probe Loudoun County School Board on sexual assaults response

Virginia Attorney General-elect Jason Miyare vowed to investigate the Loudoun County School Board's actions related to two sexual assault allegations in county high schools.

"We know that two female students were sexually assaulted at Loudoun High Schools," he tweeted Tuesday. "It is absolutely critical that we find out what the LCSB did and didn't do. Virginia parents deserve answers. And during my administration, I plan to uncover the truth."

Miyare was elected in November and will take office in January.

His comments are in response to a letter in which county Sheriff Michael Chapman raises questions about the independent review commissioned by the county on the matter, according to Fox News. 

"While I believe an independent review would be helpful, I have concerns of the legitimacy of such a review conducted at your direction," Chapman continued. "As the Attorney General is accountable to the citizens of Virginia, I feel an Attorney General review is the most objective way to move forward on this issue."

He also suggested that the school board enabled the second sexual assault.

Schools Superintendent Scott Ziegler knew about the May 28 assault at Stone Bridge High School "the day it occurred" and that Loudoun County Public Schools was notified about the student's arrest on July 9, Fox News also reports.

"Despite knowing the serious nature of the offense, LCPS decided to place this individual back into [another] high school population" and "the consequences of that decision resulted in a second student being victimized by the same defendant." 

That incident allegedly occurred Oct. 6 at Broad Run High School. 

LCPS did not respond to Fox News' request for comment. Ziegler and Chapman also did not respond to requests for comment. 

Ziegler has also suggested Chapman may not have properly notified the school system, arguing the Code of Virginia requires law enforcement to report "offenses" and not "arrests," Fox News also reports. 

"This offense was reported to the LCPS the day it occurred as evidenced by your email on May 28, 2021," Chapman wrote, referencing a letter in which Ziegler notified the school board about the incident.