Clarification and Correction
<bt>Del. David Poisson (D-32) is clarifying a statement he made at the Committee for Dulles meeting ["Delegates Talk Traffic," Loudoun Connection, March 21-27, 2007]. Poisson said that “it is an illusion for us to think we can deal with transportation in one cycle."
In the same issue, the story about River Bend Middle School's production of "Peter Pan," incorrectly identified the student playing Captain Hook. His name is Joey Caccia.
<sh>Guilty Plea
<bt>A former Loudoun County Public School and mental health employee pleaded guilty Friday, March 23, to numerous child pornography charges in Loudoun Circuit Court.
Franklin Todd England, 41, who once live in Leesburg, was charged by Loudoun Sheriff's investigators in November 2004 with two felony counts of indecent liberties with a child. England pleaded guilty to 35 counts of possession of child pornography. He will be sentenced June 21.
Back in 2004, England was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond and did not appear at his next court hearing. After nearly 18-months he was apprehended again in June of 2006. Investigators working in conjunction with the United States Secret Service located England in San Francisco, Calif. He was taken into custody June 5, 2006, and brought back to Loudoun County after waiving extradition.
England was a school social worker based at the school system's Douglass support facility as well as Loudoun County mental health employee.
The charges stem from a joint investigation between the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division, the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Office of the Inspector General, the Loudoun Commonwealth Attorney's Office and the U.S. Secret Service.
England was being held at the Loudoun Adult Detention Center in Leesburg without bond.
<sh>Seeking Information
<bt>The Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance in identifying an unknown female caught on video surveillance who fraudulently obtained a prescription for a schedule II narcotic earlier this month.
According to the Sheriff's Office, the suspect, who used the name Samantha, entered the Giant Foods store in the Potomac Station Shopping Center in Leesburg March 1 and obtained a large amount of Oxycontin from the pharmacy. The female is pictured on video surveillance and is described as a white female, approximately 5 feet 5 inches in height, weighing 100 pounds and has brown hair.
Anyone who can identify the suspect is asked to contact Loudoun Sheriff's Investigator J. Bailie at 703-771-5781. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. If the information leads to an arrest and indictment the caller could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
<sh>Hate Crime Investigated
<bt>The Loudoun County Crime Solvers Committee is offering a cash reward for a possible hate crime and destruction of property that occurred in the Sterling Park area between 9 p.m., Saturday, March 24, and 7 a.m. Saturday, March, 25. According to the Sheriff's Office, unknown subject(s) spray painted racial slurs and other graffiti on four vehicles in the areas of the 1100 block S. Greenthorn Avenue, 600 block Poplar Road and 300 block W. Poplar Road in Sterling. The case is being investigated as a possible hate crime although none of the victims appear to have been targeted and the acts appear random.
Contact Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919 or 1-877-777-1931 with information about the incident. The tip line allows callers to remain anonymous. If the information leads to an arrest and indictment the caller could be eligible for a cash reward up to $1,000.
<sh>Pet Food Recall
<bt>The Animal Shelter is warning pet owners about a pet food recall. Canadian pet food manufacturer Menu Foods has recalled dog and cat food sold under many different brands due to the potential for kidney problems.
The company does not know how many cats and dogs have been affected by the food, however it does report at least 10 deaths from kidney failure.
The recalled brands of food are sold at many major outlets, including Wal-Mart, Safeway and Giant, and includes popular brands such as Iams and Eukanuba. The recall is only for the "cuts and gravy" style of pet food, sold in pouches and cans.
For more information, including a list of recalled items, visit www.menufoods.com/recall/.
Anyone concerned that a pet may have eaten some of the recalled food or notice changes in a pet's behavior such as lethargy or loss of appetite, then contact the pet's veterinarian.
<sh>Townhouse Fire
<bt>Around 3:21 p.m., Thursday, March 22, a 911 call was received for a structure fire at 748 Balls Bluff Road, N.E., in Leesburg. Crews arrived on the scene to find a small fire in the basement of the townhouse. The majority of damage was confined to the basement area of the home. The four residents, who were displaced as a result of the incident, were provided assistance from the Loudoun County After the Fire Program and the American Red Cross. The cause of the fire, which resulted in an estimated $40,000 to $50,000 damage, was accidental due to an overloaded circuit breaker. There were no injuries as a result of this incident.
<sh>Truck Crash
<bt>The Virginia State Police continue to investigate a single- vehicle crash involving an overturned tractor trailer on the ramp from the Route 7 westbound bypass to the Greenway Toll Road (Route 267) westbound at 4 a.m., Tuesday, March 20.
The truck driver, Shawn Donte Spencer, 30, of Randallstown, Md., was not injured. A passenger, Kingsley Nelson, 35, of Randallstown, Md., was treated at the Loudoun Hospital Leesburg for minor injuries. Both occupants were wearing seat belts.
According to the police, Spencer was operating a 2003 Freightliner tractor with a box trailer containing fast-food products. The trucking company is Maine's Paper & Food of Maryland located in Savage, Md.
The investigating trooper, M. J. Brown charged Spencer with reckless driving. The ramp was reopened at 10:42 a.m. to traffic.
<sh>Fire Truck Accident
<bt>While responding to a working fire on Shaw Road Tuesday, March 20, a fire truck was involved in a vehicle accident in the intersection of Sterling Boulevard and W. Maple Avenue in Sterling. The accident, which involved an engine and a pickup truck is being investigated by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. There were no injuries resulting from the accident.
<sh>Shed Fire
<bt>Around 7:33 a.m., Tuesday, March 20, Loudoun County received a 911 call for a fire at Virginia Paving located at 23232 Shaw Road. First units arrived on the scene to find a heavy column of smoke coming from a pumping station at Virginia Paving. The fire started when a transmission line to a 15,000 gallon emulsion tank broke and ignited. Firefighters were also able to contain the product and kept it from spreading. One employee was transported to Reston Hospital for check out of injuries sustained in the incident. Estimated damage to the building is approximately $15,000.
<sh>Suspicious Fire
<bt>The Loudoun County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating an early morning fire that destroyed a barn located on the Oatlands Plantation property on James Monroe Highway south of Leesburg. Around 3:39 a.m., Monday, March 19, fire and rescue units responded to a structure fire on the Oatlands Plantation property. Upon arrival fire and rescue personnel discovered an outbuilding well involved.
The fire, which destroyed the building, is suspicious in nature. Fire marshals encourage anyone with information about the fire to contact Loudoun County Crime Solvers Hotline at 703-777-1919.