A Fairfax County police sergeant whose job includes scrutinizing other officers’ conduct is now under a harsh spotlight himself. Matthew Sylvester, a 40-year-old member of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Internal Affairs Bureau, was arrested in Warrenton on April 18 and charged with two counts of aggravated sexual battery. He was off duty at the time of the alleged incidents, and the department has placed him on administrative leave while both criminal and administrative reviews move forward.
Arrest and charges
Deputies with the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office arrested Sylvester on April 18 and booked him on two counts of aggravated sexual battery, according to DC News Now. The outlet reports that both alleged victims are known to Sylvester and that the arrest took place in Warrenton. DC News Now also reported that it requested comment from both the Fairfax County Police Department and the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office.
Internal affairs and department procedure
The Internal Affairs Bureau, where Sylvester is assigned, conducts administrative investigations into employee conduct and tracks complaints against department personnel. Putting an officer on administrative leave is a standard step while parallel criminal and internal inquiries play out, so Sylvester is off duty while those processes run. The bureau’s duties, including how it records and investigates allegations involving employees, are laid out in the department’s general orders manual, per the Fairfax County Police Department general orders manual.
Legal implications
Aggravated sexual battery is a felony under Virginia law and carries potentially significant prison time, depending on which subsection is charged and what prosecutors allege. The required elements of the offense and the sentencing framework are detailed in the Code of Virginia. Any further action in Sylvester’s case will be decided by prosecutors and ultimately the courts.
What’s next
Sylvester is expected to move through Fauquier County’s criminal justice system and will first appear in local court in connection with the charges. The Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office operates its administrative offices and detention center in Warrenton, where he was booked. Public records, court filings and any future statements from Fairfax County police or Fauquier County authorities will mark the next visible steps in the case.
