Police Emails About School Counselor Arrest Didn't Reach FCPS: Report

LINCOLNIA, VA — Since a Glasgow Middle School counselor was fired after Fairfax County Public Schools learned about his sex crime conviction, police now say emails about the 2020 arrest did not reach the school system.

Last week, Superintendent Michelle Reid notified FCPS staff that a Glasgow Middle School counselor had been fired after the school system learned he had a sex crime conviction. According to the letter, the counselor continued to be employed with Fairfax County Public Schools despite the charge and conviction of solicitation of prostitution from a minor outside the county.

As reported by WJLA, Darren Thornton had been hired by Fairfax County Public Schools in August 2020. In November 2020, Chesterfield County Police had tried to notify FCPS about Thornton's arrest and charge for solicitation of prostitution from a minor. However, Chesterfield Police told media the emails to school staff bounced back — police did not know the emails weren't received until recently.

Virginia law states law enforcement must file a report with the school division superintendent after a school division employee's arrest for a felony or Class 1 misdemeanor.

According to the Virginia sex offender registry, Thornton was convicted of solicitation of prostitution from a minor in March 2022 in Chesterfield Circuit Court.

FCPS became aware of the conviction as Chesterfield Police notified the school district about another incident. In June 2022, Thornton had been charged by Chesterfield Police with soliciting a prostitute and frequenting a bawdy place, according to WTOP. Chesterfield Police reached FCPS staff by phone after the arrest, WTOP reported.

According to media reports, Reid is seeking an investigation into how Thornton continued his employment at FCPS after his 2020 arrest.