A Herndon Middle School math teacher has been released on bond after being charged by Fairfax County Police Friday with indecent liberties with a minor. He had turned himself in following the issuance of a warrant.
Richard Forsythe, 37, of Sterling, was charged with the crime following a police investigation that was initiated due to an anonymous tip of his alleged relationship with a 17-year-old Reston girl, according to Fairfax County Police spokesperson Camille Neville.
The charge relates to an October 2006 meeting between Forsythe and the girl, according to police.
Indecent liberties, according to Virginia state law, is a sexual crime concerning an adult who is in a supervisory position over a minor who then engages in or solicits sexual activity with that minor.
Fairfax County Public Schools spokesperson Paul Regnier refused to comment on specifics of the case, other than to say that Forsythe had been placed on nonpaid administrative leave. No complaints of sexual misconduct by Forsythe had been filed with the school prior to this incident and the school system is cooperating fully with police while conducting its own parallel investigation, he added.
Calls to Forsythe's attorney were not returned at press time. Forsythe was arraigned Jan. 8 and is next scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing in Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Feb. 2.