Former West Potomac High School teacher Robert A. Boyd didn’t dispute the misdemeanor sexual battery charge against him. But under an agreement between the prosecution and Boyd’s attorney, the charges against him may be dropped.
Judge Jane Delbridge told Boyd, 41, that facts presented during Boyd’s preliminary hearing in Fairfax County Domestic Relations Court on Friday, Aug. 26, were sufficient to find him guilty of assault and battery.
But Delbridge honored an agreement between Boyd’s attorney, William Reichardt, and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jenna Sands.
Boyd’s case will be continued for one year if he attends counseling to address issues concerning inappropriate contact with minors as a person of authority and has no further contact with four students who were victims in the case.
Delbridge warned Boyd that sanctions would be imposed if he violates any portion of the agreement. A hearing will be scheduled in approximately one year to determine if charges will be ultimately dropped.
<b>BOYD TOUCHED</b> students in his class inappropriately and called the students inappropriate names on June 8 and 9, said Sands. He gave one girl a massage and engaged in similar inappropriate contact with other girls who contacted school administration, Sands said. Fairfax County Police then became involved.
Boyd, of the 8700 block of Susquehanna St. in the Lorton area, turned himself in at the Mount Vernon District police station on July 18. He was charged with sexual battery, and was required to post a $1,500 bond.
Boyd has been on administrative leave since June and faces School Board sanctions against him, his attorney said. He will not return to teach at any county school.
“It’s my deepest regret for any of this,” Boyd said, when Delbridge asked if he had anything he wanted to say to four of his former students who were victims in the case.
When Delbridge then asked Boyd to face the students who attended his hearing, he started an apology but turned it into a pep talk.
“I think I made it clear it’s always been my thing to work with kids. I feel so sorry I went so far,” he said. “You are capable of all things, of all things,” he continued. “You will still be great. You’ll do great. You’ll do great.”
While he talked, at least one of the victims cried. Another one of his former students walked out of the courtroom.