- Now-fired counselor identified as 51-year-old Darren Thornton.
- Thornton began working at a middle school in Virginia’s Fairfax County in fall 2020, continued working there after his arrest in November of that year for soliciting a minor for sex and after conviction for that crime in March 2022, according to a news report.
- Police in Chesterfield County, where arrest took place, say they notified superintendent of the county school system at time of arrest.
- “Our records folks are pretty diligent about that and keep record of who they notify and how, our records indicate that the superintendent at the time was emailed,” Chesterfield County Sgt. Winfred Lewis told local news station WJLA this week.
- Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid said she and school board took “immediate steps to dismiss the employee” upon learning about situation.
