Leesburg Man Arrested for Allegedly Groping a Teenager
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Leesburg man for allegedly committing sexual assault against a minor, according to an article by the Loudoun Times-Mirror. This man also faces kidnapping charges related to this incident.
According to the authorities, this 54-year-old Leesburg man was a coach at a local sports training facility in Ashburn. During a practice session on December 7th, this man was alone with teenage student. Then the Leesburg man allegedly groped the student multiple times. The teenage victim reported the incident to the authorities two days later.
After investigating the incident, law enforcement proceeded to arrest the Leesburg man, charging him with aggravated sexual battery and abduction. Though the Special Victims Unit continues to investigate and encourages any other victims to come forward.
At this point, the Leesburg man remains in police custody at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. While he awaits formal proceedings in court, it seems like a suitable occasion to review Virginia laws against aggravated sexual battery and abduction.
Aggravated Sexual Battery
The laws against and penalties for aggravated sexual battery appear under Code of Virginia Section 18.2-67.3. Aggravated sexual battery occurs when there is an act of sexual abuse and:
- The perpetrator uses force or the threat of force to coerce the victim;
- The perpetrator inflicts physical or mental harm on the victim;
- The perpetrator uses or threatens to use a deadly weapon;
- The victim is under the age of 15 years old;
- The victim is physically or mentally disabled; or
- The victim is between 14 to 17 years old, and the perpetrator is a parent or grandparent of the victim.
Any person who commits aggravated sexual battery is guilty of a felony under Section 18.2-67.3. If convicted for this felony, an offender typically faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail and $100,000 in fines.
Abduction
The laws against and penalties for abduction appear under Code of Virginia Section 18.2-47. It is worth noting that the terms abduction and kidnapping have the same meaning in Virginia. Though from a legal standpoint, Virginia generally refers to this offense as abduction, rather than kidnapping.
There are two different versions of abduction under Virginia law. In both cases, the perpetrator uses force, intimidation, or deception without legal justification. Additionally, the perpetrator must take, seize, or otherwise detain the victim. Finally, the perpetrator must demonstrate the intent to:
- Deprive the victim of their personal liberty or withhold them from a lawful guardian; or
- Subject the victim to forced labor or services.
Any person who commits abduction is guilty of a Class 5 felony under Section 18.2-47. If convicted for this class of felony, an offender usually faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and $2,500 in fines.
Do You Need Legal Help?
If you have legal questions about aggravated sexual battery, abduction, or other crimes in Virginia, it can be extremely beneficial to contact a skilled criminal defense attorney. The Leesburg assault and battery attorneys at Simms Showers LLP feature a wealth of combined legal experience in the field of criminal defense, including aggravated sexual battery and abduction. If you need legal help with criminal defense, contact us today for a free initial consultation.
Resource:
loudountimes.com/news/loudoun-trainer-arrested-after-allegedly-sexually-assaulting-juvenile/article_a47f28be-1ed1-11ea-9882-87346863e856.html
https://www.simmsshowerslaw.com/sterling-man-charged-for-assaulting-taxi-driver-in-virginia/
