A 43-year-old Alexandria man is being held without bond after Fairfax County police say he sexually assaulted a nine-year-old boy inside a bathroom stall in Woodlawn on Tuesday. Officers arrested the suspect the next day, and he now faces a felony charge of aggravated sexual battery of a minor.
Arrest and charges
According to FOX 5 DC, Fairfax County police identified the suspect as 43-year-old Charles Jones II of Alexandria. The outlet reports that Jones was arrested Wednesday and charged with aggravated sexual battery after detectives said the assault occurred inside a bathroom stall. He remains held without bond while investigators continue their probe.
Police focus on child-exploitation investigations
The arrest comes as county detectives are in the middle of a stepped-up push against crimes involving children. The Fairfax County Police Department said its Child Exploitation Unit ran a multi-day operation in April that resulted in 10 arrests of adults who had arranged to meet what they believed were minors, part of the department's broader work on both online and in-person offenses against children.
Charges and penalties
Aggravated sexual battery is a felony under Virginia law and includes sexual abuse of a child under 13. The offense is punishable by one to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000, per the Code of Virginia. The statute lays out the circumstances that elevate sexual battery to aggravated sexual battery and the penalties that apply on conviction.
How to report tips
Fairfax County police asked anyone with information about the case to contact the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 6, or to submit tips anonymously through Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS, the department noted. Investigators also urged parents to monitor children's online activity and to report suspicious contacts or behavior as part of community efforts to protect minors.
