Internet Sex Sting
A bookkeeper at a St. Thomas a Becket Catholic Church in Reston was arrested for soliciting sex from a teenage girl over the Internet. Guillermo A. Silva, 59, of S. Manchester Street in Falls Church, was arrested in Fairfax May 4 as he arrived for an alleged rendezvous with an undercover FBI agent who had pretended to be a 14-year-old girl on the Internet, according to an FBI press release.
Silva had been chatting on the Internet with someone he believed to be a juvenile. He then set up a meeting and traveled to a location “with the intent to engage in illicit sexual acts,” said the press release. Authorities arrested Silva without incident and placed him in custody of Fairfax County.
Silva used a computer at St. Thomas a Becket to set up the meeting with the minor, according to a Fairfax County search warrant. “Shortly after the conclusion of the instant message chat between Silva and [the undercover FBI agent], Silva was identified leaving [the church] and entering his vehicle which was in the parking lot,” said the search warrant affidavit. “Within 45 minutes, Silva arrived at the agreed upon address in Fairfax, Virginia and was subsequently arrested.”
Silva will be charged federally in the Eastern District of Virginia at a later date, said the FBI press release.
Teens Charged in Burglaries
Police charged two teenagers in connection with a string of burglaries that targeted a swim club and two elementary schools, according to a police report.
A 14-year-old Herndon boy and 15-year-old Reston boy were each charged with one count of destruction of property, two counts of grand larceny and four counts of burglary. The suspects, who usually forced entry by breaking windows, stole computers and other items, according to the police report.
The burglaries took place on the following dates and locations:
* April 7 Hiddenbrook Swim Club
* April 15 Hiddenbrook Swim Club
* April 28-May 12 Dranesville Elementary School
* April 29 Armstrong Elementary School
* May 6 Dranesville Elementary School
* May 7 Armstrong Elementary School
In the past week, police have made two sets of arrests for a string of burglaries.
New Media Relations Director
Gaea L. Honeycutt has been appointed the new director of media relations for the Reston Community Center.
Honeycutt brings 13 years experience in communications and project management, including work in education, social policy and fundraising. Prior to joining RCC, Honeycutt was a senior research associate at the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and served as a private business services consultant to entrepreneurs and non-profits. A graduate of Mount Vernon High School in 1989, Honeycutt holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago, a B.A. in communications from Bentley College, and completed graduate studies at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.
Reston Garden Tour in June
On Saturday, June 3, the Reston Garden Tour will feature a dozen gardens in the Reston area. The tour, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes a selection of townhouse and single-family shade gardens as well as several gardens in sunny locations. The event is sponsored by the Reston Association and the Reston Garden Club. All proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Friends of Reston for the Nature House. Tickets will be sold in May for $20 at the Reston Association headquarters, the Bird Feeder Store and the Reston Storefront Museum. For additional information at www.restongardenclub.org.
New Principal at Lake Anne
Linda Hajj, an assistant principal at Herndon Elementary School, was selected to be the new principal at Lake Anne Elementary School starting July 1. Hajj will replace acting principal Laura Shibles, who has been at the school on an interim basis since late last year.
Shibles took over for Michelle Padgett, who took a leave of absence in September after a controversial petition initiated by parents asked for her resignation. Parents lost confidence in Padgett last year, when for the first time Lake Anne failed to meet test standards set by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
RING Kicks Off
Reston Interfaith’s 2nd Annual Reston Interfaith Neighbors Giving (RING) campaign starts up this week.
The campaign launches with last year’s theme: “Do the RING thing: give 10 for a friend.” Over the next 10 weeks, RING teams will raise money by contacting friends, classmates, neighbors, co-workers, and family. Organizers point out that with roughly 25,000 households in Reston, just $10 from each home would raise $250,000 for Reston Interfaith's mission and programs. With little overhead, nearly 100 percent of all contributions go directly to the organization. Brass RINGs are awarded to the first, second, and third place teams that raise the most overall, as well as one for team spirit and creativity in fundraising. Go to www.restoninterfaith.org/RING to start a team.
Calendar
May 25, 7 a.m., Reston Association Board of Directors regular monthly meeting at 1930 Isaac Newton Square.