An Arlington man who engaged in an armed standoff with the FBI in May 2025 has been sentenced to prison for sexually exploiting multiple minors.
Stephen Chadwick Howell, 25, was sentenced to 18 years and 10 months behind bars today (Wednesday) for coercing a minor to engage in sexual activity and destroying property to prevent search and seizure.
An Arlington man has been arrested over alleged sexual offenses involving a teenager, and police are seeking additional possible victims.
Jeremy Mishler, 42, was arrested today (Monday) on charges of “taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a supervisory or custodial relationship.” He also faces charges of assault and battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, the Arlington County Police Department said in a press release.
The Virginia Court of Appeals will review some of the many charges against a convicted sex offender accused of indecent exposure in multiple girls’ locker rooms.
Richard Kenneth Cox, who is accused of entering public changing areas at Arlington Public Schools pools in order to undress and remain there while naked, has successfully challenged indictments on charges of illegal loitering near a school, WJLA reported this week. The rest of Cox’s charges are currently on hold pending an appeal of the Arlington County Circuit Court decision.
A convicted sex offender accused of indecent exposure in multiple girls’ locker rooms in Arlington has been found guilty of possessing child pornography.
Richard Kenneth Cox — who is still awaiting trial for other instances of allegedly claiming to be transgender in order to access girls’ locker rooms at Arlington Public Schools pools and remain there while naked — was found guilty of two counts of possession of child pornography yesterday (Wednesday).
Arlington Public Schools is addressing “concerns and recent media reports about the presence of a registered sex offender at the Arlington Aquatic Center pools.”
In a message sent to APS families and pool users Wednesday afternoon, Superintendent Dr. Francisco Durán said the school system is taking action “to prevent incidents like this from occurring again.”
A sex offender is facing numerous charges after he allegedly exposed himself inside the girls’ locker room at the Washington-Liberty High School pool.
The incident on Monday, Oct. 21 is coming to light now and receiving national attention after WJLA reported that Richard Kenneth Cox was allowed to access the girl’s locker room at the W-L aquatics center, which is open to the public for certain portions of the day, after identifying as a transgender.
Arlington police have charged a former Washington-Liberty High School basketball coach with sexual offenses and are seeking possible additional victims.
George Porcha, 53, of Winterville, North Carolina, is charged with carnal knowledge of a minor and taking indecent liberties with children, per an Arlington County Police Department press release sent out this evening (Tuesday).
A 21-year-old Reston man is facing charges after a sex crimes investigation involving victims under the age of 18.
The charges stem from “criminal incidents that occurred in 2020,” Arlington County police said. ACPD says they’re now seeking other potential victims of the suspect, identified as Matthew Coble.
Arlington Public Schools has implemented a new identification system for all visitors entering schools starting Tuesday, September 3.
Whether picking up a child or visiting a staff member, all first-time visitors — including parents, volunteers, and contractors — must register in the district-wide Visitor Management System (VMS), according to a statement from APS. In order to register, visitors must provide an approved form of identification along with the nature of their visit.
Arlington’s one-time Congressional candidate Gwendolyn Beck reportedly flew on notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s private jets, and was photographed partying with him and Prince Andrew.
Two British newspapers reported on the revelations last week, focusing on the prince’s association but also mentioning Beck. The 2014 independent candidate for Virginia’s 8th Congressional district told ARLnow today that her name is being “dragged into this” despite not doing anything wrong.
Arlington Companies in Inc. 5000 — “Inc. Magazine named 34 Arlington companies to its annual list of the nation’s 5,000 fastest-growing companies, the Inc. 5000, while five were part of the exclusive Inc. 500.” [Arlington Economic Development, InsideNova]
Predator or Victim of Injustice? — “On Monday, the Circuit Court in liberal Arlington County will be the scene of a heavy-handed morality play, with prosecutors seeking lifelong incarceration for a young gay man who has already paid an extraordinary price for youthful, nonviolent sexual indiscretions.” [Washington Post]
Garvey Wants to Nix New Year’s Day Meeting — Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey has proposed moving the Board’s traditional New Year’s Day meeting (this year it would otherwise be held on Jan. 2, the federal observance of the New Year holiday) to the next business day: Tuesday, Jan. 3. [Washington Post]
Neighbors Upset About Sex Offender’s Halloween Decorations — A 57-year-old registered sex offender says he did nothing wrong in putting up Halloween decorations in front of his Arlington house. But nearby residents don’t agree: they called the police and local TV stations, saying the display is “inappropriate” since it might “entice” children. One concerned resident said, “we are within our rights as taxpayers and longtime members of this community to protect the children in our community.” [Fox 5]
