Police Charge Local Man With Crimes against Nature
<bt>A 41-year-old Penderbrook man is facing a possible 15 years in prison after being arrested Friday, June 27, by Fairfax County police and charged with one count of crimes against nature and two counts of custodial indecent liberties with a child. He is Bernard McHale, 41, of 12023 Golf Ridge Court in Fairfax.
Police say the charges stemmed from a "series of incidents" that allegedly occurred in the summer of 1997. They say the alleged victim was 17 at the time. According to police, "[She] reported to detectives recently that McHale — who was [her] soccer coach, sexually assaulted her on more than one occasion. The [alleged] incidents occurred at McHale's former home on Rockaway Lane in Fairfax."
Detectives obtained warrants for McHale on Friday and took him into custody. He was taken to the Adult Detention Center and held without bond. McHale is currently an assistant teacher and girls varsity soccer coach at Yorktown High in Arlington and also coaches at The Potomac School, a private school in McLean. He previously coached club soccer, as well.
Police on Monday declined to say in what capacity — club or school soccer — McHale and the girl knew each other. They also refused to reveal any reason why the alleged victim decided to come forward with these allegations now, rather than six years ago, when the incidents reportedly occurred.
If convicted, McHale could receive as much as five years in prison for each charge — 15 years total. He has an Aug. 1 court date.
<sh>No Fireworks in Centreville
<bt>Although local residents will be able to find fireworks elsewhere, there will be no public fireworks display, this Fourth of July, in Centreville. However, the City of Fairfax will offer its 37th annual Independence Day celebration.
An Independence Day parade will be held, rain or shine, from 10 a.m.-noon, in the Fairfax Historic District; an ice-cream social is slated for 1 p.m. in Van Dyck Park on Old Lee Highway; and entertainment and fireworks are planned for 7-11 p.m. at Fairfax High.
<sh>Sobriety Checkpoint Nabs Five
<bt>A Fairfax County police checkpoint Friday night resulted in five arrests. Officers from the Fair Oaks District Station conducted a sobriety checkpoint, from Friday, June 27, at 11 p.m. until Saturday, June 28, at 1 a.m. at Route 50 and Alder Woods Drive in Fair Oaks.
They stopped all motorists there and checked to see whether their driving abilities had been impaired by drugs or alcohol. Police spokeswoman Julie Hersey reported Monday that 1,028 drivers went through the checkpoint. Of that amount, two people were charged with DWI and three were charged with other traffic violations.
<sh>Fair Oaks DMV Reopens
<bt>The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has reopened its office space in Fair Oaks Mall. It's one of 12 DMV offices that closed last October, and is the last one to reopen. The hours are Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Many DMV transactions may be done online; visit www.dmv.state.va.us/.
<sh>Sully Land Use, Traffic
<bt>The Sully District Council of Citizens Associations Land-Use and Transportation Committee will meet Monday, July 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Supervisor Michael R. Frey's (R-Sully) conference room in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd., in Chantilly. Call Jeff Parnes, 703-904-0131, evenings.
<sh>Park Authority to Meet
<bt>The next meeting of the Fairfax County Park Authority will be Wednesday, July 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 900, in Fairfax. Call Judy Pedersen at 703-324-8662.
<sh>WFCM Urgently Needs Food
<bt>Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) is in desperate need of canned goods and groceries for its food pantry for local needy families. Much-needed items include: Breakfast cereal, canned tuna, canned meats, spaghetti sauce, canned pasta or meat meals, "dinner in a box" meals, jelly, dried pasta, canned fruit, fruit juice, baby food, diapers (all sizes), wipes, bagged rice, bagged beans and personal-care products.
All food donations may be dropped off — either at Key Kopy in Centreville's Newgate Shopping Center — or Monday-Saturday, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Shepherd Center, 13924 Metrotech Drive in Chantilly (next to Payless Shoes) in the Sully Plaza Shopping Center. Call 703-988-9656.