Man Inappropriately Touched Children At Claude Moore Pool, Police Say

STERLING, VA — Authorities accused a man of inappropriately touching two children at the Claude Moore Park pool in Sterling on Friday morning. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said the man is also suspected of touching the children in a separate incident in December 2022.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office did not provide any information about the victims. A police report only described them as "juveniles."

Police identified the man as 62-year-old Michael Taylor. He is charged with four counts of assault. Deputies arrested Taylor on Friday; he is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.

If convicted of all charges, Taylor could face up to four years in prison based on Virginia's sentencing guidelines.

At 6 a.m. on Friday, the two victims told deputies that Taylor inappropriately touched them while they were in the Claude Moore Park swimming pool. The children also told deputies that Taylor inappropriately touched them in December, as well.

"Detectives with the Special Victims Unit believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective J. Whitehead at 703-777-1021," the sheriff's office said.

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center can provide information about reporting and coping with sexual abuse. Their website also features training materials and tips to prevent sexual abuse. The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network operates a 24/7 hotline for victims of sexual assault. The hotline can be reached at 1-800-656-4673.