A Burke resident and music teacher at Langston Hughes Middle School in Reston has been arrested and charged with production of child pornography.
Fairfax County Police allege that 43-year-old Richard Crane Jr. secretly videotaped juveniles changing clothes in the men’s locker room of the Oak Marr Recreational Center in Oakton. Crane was taken into custody by police on Saturday, following an incident at the rec center, where Crane is a member. He is currently being held without bond.
On Saturday, police were called to the rec center to investigate reports of suspicious activity by Crane, who was loitering in the men’s locker room. Following a personal search, police discovered a concealed camera on Crane’s person, and upon viewing the videotape on the camera, saw pictures of boys in various states of undress. According to an affidavit in support of a search warrant, Crane was taken to the Fair Oaks District Station, where he told police the primary focus of the video was "boys 10 years of age or younger." He also said he had been videotaping boys at several recreation centers in Fairfax County over the last year.
Later that evening, police executed a search warrant on Crane's Westport Lane home, where they found and confiscated DVDs, photos, CDs, and other miscellaneous documentation, as well as Crane's personal computer, according to the search warrant on file in the clerk's office of the Fairfax County Circuit court.
The investigation is ongoing, and further charges could be filed, pending the findings of the seized items.
Crane, a faculty member since 1988, is the band director and music department head at Langston Hughes Middle. He has been put on unpaid administrative leave from that position, according to Paul Regnier, director of community relations for the Fairfax County Public Schools. Regnier added the school system is investigating the matter.
"We will take appropriate action once the investigation is complete," said Regnier. After being informed of the incident, Hughes principal Deborah Jackson sent a letter home with parents explaining the situation on Monday.
"This is an unfortunate incident for our school community," said Jackson in the letter. "We must continue to work together to ensure that our students are safe and that they feel comfortable informing us of any matters of this nature."
Regnier said that police have told him there is no indication of any similar incidents on school property.
"We did a complete fingerprint background check when we hired him in 1988," said Regnier of Crane. "We checked him out."