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Substitute Teacher Assaulted Student During School Hours In Fairfax County: Police Substitute Teacher Assaulted Student During School Hours In Fairfax County: Police
Substitute Teacher Assaulted Student During School Hours In Fairfax County: Police A substitute teacher at Dogwood Elementary School in Fairfax County has been arrested and charged after allegedly assaulting a student during school hours, authorities said. Rakshanda Jaiban, 44, of Sterling, turned herself in and was served a summons releasable charge for simple assault, according to police. The investigation was launched in September 2024, when Child Protective Services received a report that a student had been assaulted by a substitute teacher at the school.  The student sustained minor injuries, police said.  Detectives from the Fairfax County Police Departm…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Bill Belichick's Recruiting Trail Hits DMV Catholic Schools Bill Belichick's Recruiting Trail Hits DMV Catholic Schools
Bill Belichick's Recruiting Trail Hits DMV Catholic Schools Some coaching legends came together in Maryland on Thursday, Jan. 16. Former New England Patriots legend Bill Belichick made a pitstop at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville to check in with Sports Illustrated's Maryland Coach of the Year Bill McGregor. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DeMatha High School (@demathacatholic) McGregor has been a fixture at Dematha Catholic for decades, leading them to multiple championships and undefeated seasons. He led the DeMatha (10-1) back to the state championship, when they won their…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Lifelong Educator Entering Hospice Care After Battle With Cancer 'Touched So Many' Lifelong Educator Entering Hospice Care After Battle With Cancer 'Touched So Many'
Lifelong Educator Entering Hospice Care After Battle With Cancer 'Touched So Many' A beloved teacher and mother of two who bravely battled cancer before it returned one last time is being remembered for her decades educating children in the region. Kym Hurley, a lifelong educator who was forced to retire due to her health conditions, has entered hospice care, organizers of a long-running GoFundMe campaign for her family confirmed on Tuesday afternoon. Hurley, who has taught children for more than 30 years - and would have taught or another 30 if her health permitted, friends say - put on a courageous years-long fight with the disease. The teacher is being remembered for …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Snow Way! These Maryland, Virginia School Districts Announce Tuesday Closures (UPDATED) Snow Way! These Maryland, Virginia School Districts Announce Tuesday Closures (UPDATED)
Snow Way! These Maryland, Virginia School Districts Announce Tuesday Closures (Updated) Some students are celebrating - and some parents are mourning - as school districts in Maryland and Virginia begin announcing closures for Tuesday.  With the first snowstorm of 2025 rolling through the region, most schools were closed on Monday, Jan. 6, and some districts chose to be proactive and called off classes on Tuesday as a precaution. As of 5:30 p.m. on Monday, these districts have announced closures:  Maryland Anne Arundel County Public Schools; Baltimore County Public Schools; Calvert County Public Schools; Charles County Public Schools; College of Southern Maryland;…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Fairfax County Teacher Arrested For Distributing THC Vapes To High Schoolers: Police Fairfax County Teacher Arrested For Distributing THC Vapes To High Schoolers: Police
Fairfax County Teacher Arrested For Distributing THC Vapes To High Schoolers: Police An Alexandria woman teaching at a Falls Church High School has been accused of selling vape cartridges loaded with nicotine and THC to her own students, police said. Detectives with the Major Crimes Bureau’s Child Abuse Squad arrested Kaitlyn Cresent, 28, on Monday, Dec. 30, following a two-month investigation, according to Fairfax County police. The investigation began in October 2024, after Child Protective Services received a tip alleging Cresent had been selling vape cartridges to students at school, and detectives determined the sales occurred between December 2023 and June 2024 a…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Some DMV Schools Closing Early Due To Inclement Weather: Here's The Latest Breakdown Some DMV Schools Closing Early Due To Inclement Weather: Here's The Latest Breakdown
Some DMV Schools Closing Early Due To Inclement Weather: Here's The Latest Breakdown With rain expected to turn to snow across parts of Maryland and Virginia, some school districts are being proactive and have already announced early dismissals or closures for students and staff. A Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia. Temperatures are expected to continue dropping over the weekend, with a wintry mix expected on Sunday night into Monday. Rain and snow will develop across the region today with higher snow accu…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Teacher At Virginia Middle School Accused Of Assaulting Student: Police Teacher At Virginia Middle School Accused Of Assaulting Student: Police
Teacher At Virginia Middle School Accused Of Assaulting Student: Police A teacher at Rippon Middle School in Woodbridge is facing charges after allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old student during a classroom altercation earlier this month, police say. Charges have been obtained for 50-year-old Gail Latasha Hill following an incident on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at the school in the 15100 block of Blackburn Road involving the teen student. According to investigators from the Prince William County Police Department, Hill was allegedly involved in a verbal dispute with the student, and during the encounter, Hill allegedly swung her shoulder, striking the student and causing h…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Slurring School Bus Driver Arrested For DUI With Students On Board In Virginia, Sheriff Says Slurring School Bus Driver Arrested For DUI With Students On Board In Virginia, Sheriff Says
Slurring School Bus Driver Arrested For DUI With Students On Board In Virginia, Sheriff Says A Virginia school bus driver is facing DUI and child endangerment charges after authorities say he drove part of a route with children onboard before being stopped by a school aid. Deputies in Hanover County were called to Laurel Meadow Elementary School around 3:45 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, where there was a report of a bus driver possibly experiencing a medical issue.  When deputies arrived, they found 68-year-old Danny Ray Spence, of Henrico, showing signs of impairment, including slurred speech and the smell of alcohol on him, according to the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. Inves…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Dr. Jill Biden Teaches Final Class At NOVA Ahead Of White House Departure Dr. Jill Biden Teaches Final Class At NOVA Ahead Of White House Departure
Dr. Jill Biden Teaches Final Class At Nova Ahead Of White House Departure President Joe Biden won’t be the only member of his family stepping away from office next month. Dr. Jill Biden announced this week during a virtual "thank you" event that she has taught her final class at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) in Alexandria after joining the staff in 2009 teaching English courses.  The first lady has served as an English professor at the school for more than a decade while balancing her duties in the White House. Her move comes just over a month before the Bidens are set to leave the White House. It remains unclear whether Jill Biden, 73, plans …

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by Zak Failla
News
DMV Jeopardy! Stars Stumble: Tough Week Under Bright Lights Ends In Defeat DMV Jeopardy! Stars Stumble: Tough Week Under Bright Lights Ends In Defeat
DMV Jeopardy! Stars Stumble: Tough Week Under Bright Lights Ends In Defeat Who is... The DMV's Best? Turns out none of them after falling flat under the bright Jeopardy! lights. Three local contestants from Maryland and Virginia stepped up to the podium, but all three went home empty-handed, leaving the DMV without a champion. The week kicked off on Monday, Dec. 9, with Vienna ESL teacher Lisa O'Donnell taking on Boston's Bill McKinney, a vice president of restaurants and bars. McKinney cruised through the competition, winning a few games before his controversial exit on Friday. On Wednesday, Hyattsville tax accountant Sam Nguyen couldn’t clinch a victory, while …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.  Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline.  This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue.  As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Swastika, Inappropriate Images Found Inside Classroom At Virginia High School: Police Swastika, Inappropriate Images Found Inside Classroom At Virginia High School: Police
Swastika, Inappropriate Images Found Inside Classroom At Virginia High School: Police A disturbing act of vandalism has prompted an investigation at Patriot High School in Nokesville after inappropriate images, including a swastika, were found inside a classroom. The incident was reported to the School Resource Officer on Monday, Dec. 11, according to the Prince William County Police Department, and the officer discovered the symbols drawn on a partition inside the classroom, police said. The markings, which included the swastika and other inappropriate images, did not contain threats directed at students or staff, authorities noted.  No other vandalism was reported el…

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by Zak Failla
News
Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Maryland Family Officially Charged Overnight With CEO's Murder Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Maryland Family Officially Charged Overnight With CEO's Murder
Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Maryland Family Officially Charged Overnight With CEO's Murder An Ivy League-educated high school valedictorian from a privileged, politically connected family has been charged with the execution-style murder of the CEO of one of the nation's largest healthcare providers after a days-long manhunt. Click here for a new, updated story - CEO Murder: Whiz Kid Suspect May Have Spiraled After Traumatic Back Surgery New York prosecutors have formally charged 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a native of Towson, Maryland, with the fatal shooting of United Healthcare executive Brian Thompson.  The incident occurred outside the New York Hilton in midt…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Here's When A Bell-To-Bell Cell Phone Ban Will Be Enacted In Some Virginia Schools Here's When A Bell-To-Bell Cell Phone Ban Will Be Enacted In Some Virginia Schools
Here's When A Bell-To-Bell Cell Phone Ban Will Be Enacted In Some Virginia Schools Students in Prince William County will soon have to part ways with their cell phones during the school day, thanks to a newly approved policy aimed at boosting focus and academic success. The Prince William County School Board voted on Wednesday, Dec. 4 to adopt a bell-to-bell cell phone ban for all schools, which will take effect in August 2025.  The policy aligns with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 33, promoting cell phone-free learning environments in public schools. “'Bell-to-Bell' means from when the first bell rings at the start of the school day to beg…

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by Zak Failla
News
Two Students Hospitalized After Stabbing At Virginia High School: Police Two Students Hospitalized After Stabbing At Virginia High School: Police
Two Students Hospitalized After Stabbing At Virginia High School: Police A violent altercation between two students at Henrico High School left one with life-threatening injuries and another hospitalized on Wednesday afternoon, Henrico Police said. The incident happened shortly before 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 4, when officers responded to the school after a report of a fight between two teens. A School Resource Officer immediately arrived at the scene and discovered both students injured. One of the students was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, while the other was taken to a different hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, accordi…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Unitarian Universalist Minister From DMV Hopes To Turn Trivia Into Treasure On Jeopardy! Unitarian Universalist Minister From DMV Hopes To Turn Trivia Into Treasure On Jeopardy!
Unitarian Universalist Minister From DMV Hopes To Turn Trivia Into Treasure On Jeopardy! The DMV is set to be represented on Wednesday as a popular minister is ready to represent the region on Jeopardy! Takoma Park resident Kimberley Debus, a community-based minister with thee Unitarian Universalist Association, who has served across the country, is the latest contestant to take her shot at becoming a champion on the popular quiz show. Debus, who has ties to Nebraska and New York, is set to square off against Gloria Nastas, a retired healthcare policy analyst from Michigan and returning champion Stevie Ruiz, an assistant front office manager from Long Island who won $17,987 on …

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by Zak Failla
News
Former Maryland Teacher Learns Fate After Years-Old Sex Abuse Case With Student Comes to Light Former Maryland Teacher Learns Fate After Years-Old Sex Abuse Case With Student Comes to Light
Former Maryland Teacher Learns Fate After Years-Old Sex Abuse Case With Student Comes to Light A former middle school teacher in Maryland will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years once she completes her prison term for sexually abusing a student, authorities announced on Tuesday. Melissa Marie Curtis, 31, of Upper Marlboro, was sentenced to 30 years in prison with all suspended but 12 months to serve, followed by five years of supervised probation after pleading guilty in June to three counts of third-degree sex offense in connection to the abuse of a teen. In November 2023, police in Montgomery County launched an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse that ha…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Four More Years? Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares Running For Reelection Four More Years? Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares Running For Reelection
Four More Years? Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares Running For Reelection Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced that he will not be seeking the Republican nomination for the governor's seat, and will instead be running for reelection.  In a video posted on social media, the AG touted his track record reducing drug crimes and targeting the state's most violent criminals. I am running for re-election as Attorney General. As Attorney General, I’ve deployed every tool available to keep Virginians safe and violent criminals off our streets. We are not going back to the failed policies of the past; our families' safety and Virginia's future… pic.twi…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
First-Grade Teacher Accused Of Selling Fatal Fentanyl Dose To DC Man, Selling At School: Feds First-Grade Teacher Accused Of Selling Fatal Fentanyl Dose To DC Man, Selling At School: Feds
First-Grade Teacher Accused Of Selling Fatal Fentanyl Dose To DC Man, Selling At School: Feds A teacher in Maryland who allegedly left her classroom to sell drugs to people on school property is facing charges for distributing a fatal dose of fentanyl, according to federal authorities. Sarah Katherine Magid, 34, has been charged with distributing fentanyl that resulted in serious bodily injury and the death of a victim, according to a criminal complaint that was unsealed this week in District Court. Magid, a first-grade teacher at a Montgomery County school was arrested in August following a search and seizure warrant by the DEA and local police at her Burtonsville home fo…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
These Are Virginia's Top Public Elementary Schools: New Rankings Released These Are Virginia's Top Public Elementary Schools: New Rankings Released
These Are Virginia's Top Public Elementary Schools: New Rankings Released Several elementary schools in Virginia earned an A+ and are among the best in the state, according to a new Niche report. The Arlington Traditional Elementary School was ranked the top in the state, according to researchers, followed by Oak Street Elementary in Falls Church, Innovation Elementary and Taylor Elementary, also in Arlington. To determine the "best public schools in America," Niche's ranking was "based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from US Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche users." …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Assistant Principal Accused Of Failing To Report Student Assaults In Fairfax County: Police Assistant Principal Accused Of Failing To Report Student Assaults In Fairfax County: Police
Assistant Principal Accused Of Failing To Report Student Assaults In Fairfax County: Police As assistant principal in Virginia was charged after failing to report allegations about a special education teacher who allegedly assaulted multiple students, police say. Earlier this year, Elizabeth Yoshimi Nagagata, 62, a teacher at White Oaks Elementary School in Fairfax County, was arrested and charged after investigators received a referral in April regarding an educator who was caught assaulting a student at school. According to investigators from the Fairfax County Police Department, the investigation found that between September 2023 and April 2024, Nagagata allegedly assaulted thr…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
These Are Virginia's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released These Are Virginia's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released
These Are Virginia's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released Several middle schools in Virginia earned top marks and are among the best in the state, according to a new Niche report. Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School in the Falls Church Public Schools System topped the list, followed by Lylburn Downing, Dorothy Hamm, and Rocky Run middle schools. Earlier this year, Niche also ranked the top public high schools in Virginia, a list that was topped by Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. To determine the "best public schools in America," Niche's ranking was "based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from US Depar…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Instructional Assistant At Virginia HS Arrested For Obscene Sexual Display In Classroom: Police Instructional Assistant At Virginia HS Arrested For Obscene Sexual Display In Classroom: Police
Instructional Assistant At Virginia HS Arrested For Obscene Sexual Display In Classroom: Police An instructional assistant at a Virginia high school was arrested after allegedly touching himself inappropriately in a classroom, police say. Great Falls resident David Scalea, 40, who worked as a Langley High School Instructional Assistant has been placed on leave and is behind bars after a student caught him in the act, according to investigators. During school hours on Friday, Oct. 11, police say that a School Resource Officer was notified by administrators that a student observed an instructional assistant masturbating in a classroom behind his desk. Detectives launched an investigati…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
'Heaven Gained Another Angel:' Community Rallying To Send Award-Winning VA Crossing Guard Home 'Heaven Gained Another Angel:' Community Rallying To Send Award-Winning VA Crossing Guard Home
'Heaven Gained Another Angel:' Community Rallying To Send Award-Winning VA Crossing Guard Home A beloved member of the Alexandria Police Department who has been a fixture in the community for decades is being remembered for his work and commitment to children following his death, now they are hoping to send his body home to Trinidad. School Crossing Guard Richard Thomas leaves behind a lasting legacy following his passing after years of directing traffic and bonding with students and families during an award-winning career in Virginia. The state's "Most Outstanding Crossing Guard" in 2023 "knew how to keep everyone in the world around him safe," organizers of a GoFundMe campaign wrot…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
New Rankings: Fairfax County's Top Public High Schools Revealed New Rankings: Fairfax County's Top Public High Schools Revealed
New Rankings: Fairfax County's Top Public High Schools Revealed Niche has released its list of the best public high schools in America for 2025. Coming in at No. 12 is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, which is within the Fairfax County Public School System. For Virginia, TJHS came in at No. 1, with Independence HS in Loudoun County ranking at No. 2, and Washington Liberty HS in Arlington at No. 3. You can click here for a full list of state rankings. We wanted to break it down further and find the best public high schools in northern Virginia, as ranked by Niche. Here's how it looks: ARLINGTON (only three listed) 1. Washingto…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
5-Year-Old Assaulted By Assistant Principal Of Spotsylvania County School: Authorities 5-Year-Old Assaulted By Assistant Principal Of Spotsylvania County School: Authorities
5-Year-Old Assaulted By Assistant Principal Of Spotsylvania County School: Authorities A 52-year-old assistant principal has been arrested after authorities said she assaulted a 5-year-old child in Northern Virginia. Misty Kelly, the assistant principal at the Spotswood Elementary School, has been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery and is expected to surrender to police in Spotsylvania, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office said. The 5-year-old student's mom said she noticed bruising on her daughter's back and ribs and notified authorities on Aug. 28, the sheriff's office said. "When the mother questioned her child as to how she received the injuries, the child s…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Woman Restrained Kids With Tape At Fairfax County-Licensed Day Care Facility: Police Woman Restrained Kids With Tape At Fairfax County-Licensed Day Care Facility: Police
Woman Restrained Kids With Tape At Fairfax County-Licensed Day Care Facility: Police An Alexandria woman who ran a county-licensed at-home day care center is facing charges for allegedly abusing at least two children, Fairfax County officials say. Sumy Shah, 47, turned herself in to police this week following an investigation into allegations that on multiple occasions she restrained children using tape at the facility. According to the Fairfax County Police Department, earlier this month, officers were called to the 3600 block of Paul Street in Bailey's Crossroads to investigate a reported assault, and it was determined that Shah allegedly abused the children. An arrest w…

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by Zak Failla
News
First-Grade Teacher Arrested In Connection To Fentanyl-Related Death Of District Man: Police First-Grade Teacher Arrested In Connection To Fentanyl-Related Death Of District Man: Police
First-Grade Teacher Arrested In Connection To Fentanyl-Related Death Of District Man: Police A first-grade teacher in Maryland has been arrested in connection to the fentanyl-related death of a District resident earlier this year, police in Montgomery County announced. Sarah Katherine Magid, an educator with the county's public schools, was arrested on Monday following a search and seizure warrant by the DEA and local police at her Burtonsville home following an investigation into a March 2024 overdose. An autopsy later determined that the DC man's cause of death was fentanyl toxicity. According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, following the man's death, it was deter…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Virginia Community Ranked Third 'Best Place To Live For Families' New Fortune Report Finds Virginia Community Ranked Third 'Best Place To Live For Families' New Fortune Report Finds
Virginia Community Ranked Third 'Best Place To Live For Families' New Fortune Report Finds If you know, you know.  It's no secret to Fairfax County residents, but Fortune made it official, naming Chantilly the third "best place to live for families" in a newly released ranking, citing it as "a serene escape" from the DC craziness. Researchers cited Chantilly's proximity to the city (24 miles), as well as Dulles International Airport, which is approximately seven miles away and is "convenient for family vacations."  "The community is largely residential, with just over 25,000 people, but there’s plenty to do," they said. "Along Route 50 you’ll find a number of…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Special Education Teacher Accused Of Assaulting Multiple Students In Virginia: Police Special Education Teacher Accused Of Assaulting Multiple Students In Virginia: Police
Elizabeth Yoshimi Nagagata Accused Of Assaulting Students A special education teacher in Virginia has been arrested and charged for allegedly assaulting multiple students, police say. Elizabeth Yoshimi Nagagata, 62, a teacher at White Oaks Elementary School in Fairfax County, is facing charges after investigators received a referral in April regarding an educator who was caught assaulting a student at school. According to investigators from the Fairfax County Police Department, the investigation found that between September 2023 and April 2024, Nagagata allegedly assaulted three students on separate occasions. The nature of the assaults were not …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Former Teacher In Virginia Charged With Child Porn Offenses In Spotsylvania, Sheriff Says Former Teacher In Virginia Charged With Child Porn Offenses In Spotsylvania, Sheriff Says
Former Teacher In Virginia Charged With Child Porn Offenses In Spotsylvania, Sheriff Says A 31-year-old man in Virginia who worked as an educator and at a local church is facing child porn charges following a lengthy investigation in Spotsylvania County, according to the sheriff's office. Daniel Brian Fleming, already in custody for a previous offense involving a child, is now charged with solicitation of child pornography and use of a communications system to facilitate offenses involving children following an investigation by the Chesapeake Police Department, authorities announced on Tuesday. In January, the department learned that Fleming was involved with criminal activities…

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by Zak Failla