School Custodian is Charged: Aggravated Sexual Battery
<bt>A Centreville man employed as a custodian at Oakton Elementary has been charged with the aggravated sexual battery of a 10-year-old boy at the school. Arrested was Tito Paniagua, 39, of 14463 Salisbury Plain Court in the Newgate community.
According to Fairfax County police, last Friday, Feb. 10, around 3:40 p.m., the boy was walking down a hallway when Paniagua allegedly touched the boy inappropriately as they passed each other. The child told his teacher and police were called.
School system spokesman Paul Regnier said Paniagua has been employed by Fairfax County Public Schools since 1997. Police arrested him Monday, and he was released from the Adult Detention Center, the next day, on $10,000 bond. He has a March 24 court date.
<sh>Centreville 7-Eleven Robbed
<bt>Fairfax County police are looking for the person who robbed a 7-Eleven convenience store, early Wednesday morning, in Centreville. The incident occurred around 5:40 a.m. at the store at 13830-1 Lee Highway. Police say a man entered the 7-Eleven, displayed a handgun and demanded cash from the 53-year-old clerk.
Then after the clerk gave the man money from the cash drawer, the robber fled on foot. He's described as a white male, about 5 feet 7 inches, and wearing blue jeans, white sneakers and a dark coat. Anyone with information about him or this incident is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477 or police at 703-691-2131.
<sh>Bank Robbery Case Dismissed
<bt>On Dec. 9, Fairfax County police charged Chantilly resident Christopher A. Watson, 27, with the Dec. 2 robbery of the Centreville BB&T bank at 6130 Redwood Square Centre. However, he reportedly had an alibi for the time of the incident. And last Monday, Feb. 6, before Judge William Minor in General District Court, the charge against him was dismissed.
<sh>DWI Checkpoint Nabs Three
<bt>A Fairfax County police sobriety checkpoint last week nabbed three people. Officers from the Sully District Station conducted the checkpoint on Route 29 at Union Mill Road from Thursday, Feb. 9, at 11 p.m. until Friday, Feb. 10, at 2 a.m. Police stopped some 243 cars and checked to see whether the drivers' abilities had been impaired by drugs or alcohol.
As a result, two motorists were arrested. One was charged with driving while intoxicated, and another was charged with possession of a gun by a convicted felon and driving on a suspended license. Police also cited one for motorist for driving without a license.
<sh>Church, New Businesses at Feb. 21 WFCCA Meeting
<bt>A church, dry cleaners, pharmacy and bank are all on tap for the upcoming meeting of the West Fairfax County Citizens Association (WFCCA) Land-Use Committee. The meeting, open to the public, is Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m., in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd., in Chantilly. Agenda items include:
* An application to allow a dry cleaners with on-site processing in the Westfields Retail Center;
* A revised design with more seating capacity for the new Mount Olive Baptist Church being built off Old Centreville Road; and
* A possible drive-through pharmacy and drive-through bank along Route 29, at its intersection with Route 28 in Centreville. A third building, containing some 3,200 square feet of retail space, is also planned.
<sh>Citizens' Advisory Committee
<bt>The next meeting of the Sully District Police Station's Citizens' Advisory Committee is Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m. It will be in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd., in Chantilly. Discussed will be Fairfax County's 2007 fiscal budget as it pertains to public safety.
Supervisors Michael R. Frey (R-Sully) and Elaine McConnell (R-Springfield) will present their positions on the public-safety budget proposals. They'll also take questions from the community on this subject.
<sh>Deer Hunt in Sully Woodlands
<bt>Under the direction of the Fairfax County Park Authority, Animal Control and Police Department, a managed deer hunt will take place in Sully Woodlands on Tuesday, Feb. 21. The purpose is to reduce the excessive deer herd in this area, and all hunters had to qualify in advance.
<sh>Westfield Community Coalition
<bt>The Westfield Community Coalition will meet Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 12:30-2:30 p.m., in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Contact Nancy Bennett at 703-266-2370 or at Bennett15428@aol.com.
<sh>Sully District Council Mtg.
<bt>The Sully District Council of Citizens Associations will meet Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 7:30 p.m. in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Call Mark McConn at 703-818-9124.
<sh>Park Authority to Meet
<bt>The next meeting of the Fairfax County Park Authority will be Wednesday, Feb. 22, 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>Free Carseat Inspections
<bt>Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections, Thursday, Feb. 23, and
Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 5-9 p.m. each day, at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. They'll make sure the seats are correct for the child’s age, height and weight, the child is securely placed in the seat and the seat is properly installed in the vehicle.
No appointment is necessary. But residents should install the child safety seats themselves, so the technicians may properly inspect and make adjustments, as necessary. Call the Sully District Child Seat Information line (703-814-7000, ext. 5140) to confirm dates and time. For additional child seat inspection times throughout Fairfax County, call the Fairfax County Operations Support Bureau at 703-280-0559.
<sh>Caputo Holds Town Meeting
<bt>Del. Chuck Caputo (D-67th) will host his second, town-hall meeting on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 10 a.m.-noon, at the Chantilly Regional Library at 4000 Stringfellow Road. Special guests will be police Capt. Amy Lubas, commander of the Fair Oaks District Station, and police Capt. Susan Culin, commander of the Sully District Station. All are welcome. Questions may be directed to Caputo's legislative aide, Lu Ann Maciulla McNabb, at LA@delegatecaputo.com, or call 703-543-7268.
<sh>Residential Assistance Program
<bt>Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) Is accepting applicants for the Residential Assistance Program (RAP) by close of business, March 1.
Funded by a grant for the Fannie Mae Foundation, over a nine-month period it gives families or individuals financial help, counseling and referrals to services that will steer them toward self-sufficiency. It then follows up with 2 1/2 years of counseling support.
Candidates must have been in continuous residence for at least one year in one of the following ZIP codes: 20120, 20121, 20124, 20151, 22033 and 22039. They'll be required to complete an application for submission to the RAP committee and, if approved, will be required to sign a contract with WFCM. Call Dorothy Fonow at 703-988-9656.
<sh>Blood Donations are Sought
<bt>The Inova Blood Donor Center in the Centremed I Building on Route 29 in Centreville (across from the Centreville Multiplex Cinemas) is in urgent need of blood donations — especially O positive or negative, as well as A and B. They're accepted Tuesday-Friday, noon-8 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. For an appointment to give blood, call (703) 322-1970, or drop in at your own convenience.
<sh>WFCM Needs Donations to Help Local Needy Families
<bt>Each month, Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) provides food, personal-hygiene and cleaning items to some 300, low-income, working families of all races and religions in western Fairfax County. Its food pantry and clothes closet are at 13981 Metrotech Drive in Chantilly, and it's in great need of donations from the community.
The 10 most-needed items are: Cooking oil (22-34-ounce bottles), flour, (2-5-pound sizes), complete pancake mixes and syrup, juices (preferably concentrate), spaghetti sauce, feminine-hygiene products, deodorant and laundry detergent. Food and personal-product donations are accepted Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at WFCM's back door.
WFCM's thrift shop is open to the public, Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Clothing, household items, miscellaneous donations are accepted Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the back door. Call 703-988-9656 with questions or to volunteer, or see www.wfcmva.org.