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May 2, 2018 | Serving Haymarket, Gainesville and Western Prince William County | Vol. 17, No. 18 | www.PrinceWilliamTimes.com | 50¢
‘It’s just worse than we anticipated...’
Bond denied for child-care worker charged with sexually assaulting 5-year-olds By Amanda Heincer
involving more children are expected, a prosecutor said in Prince William Circuit Court Monday. During a brief hearing April 30, Prince William Circuit Court Judge Steven S. Smith denied bond for Taylor Keith Boykin, 27, who was arrested April 20 and charged with
Times Staff Writer
Concerns about a Minnieland Academy teacher arrested this month for inappropriately touching four 5-year-olds in his care date back to October 2016, and charges
four counts of aggravated sexual battery, four counts of object sexual penetration and four counts of indecent liberties by a custodian. Detectives from the Prince William County Police Department’s Special Victims Bureau and the Virginia Department of Social
Services began an investigation March 27 into an allegation that Boykin “inappropriately touched” a 5-year-old girl at Minnieland Academy, 10368 Bristow Center Drive in Bristow, on March 26, See TEACHER, Page 2
NEW MAYORS ELECTED IN OCCOQUAN AND DUMFRIES
PHOTOS BY DELIA ENGSTROM Occoquan voters returned Earnie Porta, left, to the Occoquan mayor’s post. Porta previously served as mayor from 2006 to 2014. Derrick Wood and his wife Monique, right, exit the polls at Dumfries Town Hall on May 1. Wood won Dufries’ top elected post with 73 percent of the vote.
Porta returns as Occoquan mayor, Wood wins top post in Dumfries election results Tuesday night. A current councilman, a former mayor and an incumbent were elected in Dumfries, Occoquan and Quantico, respectively, as voters went to the polls
By Jonathan Hunley and Aileen Streng Familiar faces will fill the mayor’s posts in eastern Prince William County’s three towns, according to unofficial
INSIDE Calendar....................................ONLINE Classifieds...........................................13 News....................................................3 Opinion...............................................11
4ote
to pick new town leaders May 1. Dumfries Councilman Derrick Wood, 40, won the race for Dumfries town mayor, garnering 389 votes to fellow Councilman Cliff Brewer’s 142 votes.
Six candidates were running for three council seats, including Wood’s and that of Gwen Washington, who did not seek re-election.
See MAYORS, page 4
Obituaries.............................................7 Puzzle Page..........................................8 Real Estate..........................................12 Sports.................................................19
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Gainesville/Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | May 2, 2018
Bond denied for child-care worker charged with sexually assaulting 5-year-olds, more charges expected TEACHER, from Page 1
and said there were no eyewitnesses, no physical evidence and no video evidence of the alleged incidents, though the day care center is equipped Taylor Keith with video cameras. Boykin In charging documents, detectives wrote that Boykin admitted to pulling down the victims’ pants and underwear and touching them on several occasions. Boykin was the victims’ junior kindergarten teacher, the charging documents state. But Jenkins said his client “denies making statements that amount to a confession or an admission of anything.” Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Lauren Pomerantz, however, said during the court hearing that Boykin did confess to the incidents in an interview with police that was videotaped. During that interview, Boykin also wrote letters of apology to the victims, indicated on a di-
agram where he touched the victims, and, at detectives’ request, wrote a list of the students in his classroom, circling the names of students “that police should be concerned about,” Pomerantz said. Video cameras in the day care center do not record anything, but police are still sorting through other evidence, including images found on Boykin’s cell phone, which he voluntarily turned over to police, Pomerantz said.
Police recovered several images on Boykin’s phone of not-yet-identified children on the slide at the Minnieland Academy “in various states of undress.” There had been concerns about Boykin at the day care since October 2016, when a child first came forward to report an incident involving Boykin. At that time, the day care center director “sought to allay the family’s
concerns,” Pomerantz said. “But as it turns out, the concerns were founded.” It was not clear Monday how or to whom that incident was reported. The charges filed against Boykin to date involve four children, but additional charges are likely, prosecutors said. “At this point, additional charges are forthcoming,” Pomerantz said. Parents of Minnieland Academy filled several rows of the courtroom Monday. After the hearing, most parents in attendance declined to comment. “It’s just worse than we anticipated, I’ll say that,” said one woman who declined to give her name. “Today is a very difficult day. I’ll just put it that way,” said another woman. In denying Boykin’s bond, Smith said he felt Boykin would be a continuing danger to the community if released and that he could be a flight risk. Reach Amanda Heincer at aheincer@fauquier.com.
KKK pamphlets turn up in Triangle
on the lawns of several houses in the area, Prince William County police spokesman Nathan Probus said in a news release. A caller told police they found a bag on their front lawn “that contained birdseed and the pamphlets, which appeared to be recruiting material for the Ku Klux Klan [that] included anti-Semitic and anti-African-American verbiage,” Probus said in the news release. Police canvassed the neighborhood and learned multiple bags were
found over the previous two days. The bags “were seemingly thrown at random,” landing on front lawns and walks. “Some were found on the property of African-American residents,” the press release said. The bird seed was apparently used to weigh down the bags, and police think they were thrown from a vehicle, although there were no reports of suspicious vehicles or suspicious people seen in the area, police said. No property damage was reported. The police investigation continues.
Prince William County police said in a news release. The girl told a parent about the incident, and the parent then notified the center, police said. The parent also reported the incident to Child Protective Services, and a joint investigation with the police department and department of social services was launched, the news release said. During the investigation, police identified three more victims, all 5-year-old girls, police said. All of the victims were sexually assaulted by the suspect sometime since March 2017, the police news release said.
Prosecutor: Day care video cameras don’t record
At the bond hearing, defense attorney Robert Jenkins asked the judge to release Boykin on bond and electronic monitoring. Jenkins characterized the allegations against Boykin as “uncorroborated”
Prince William County police are investigating after pamphlets that appear to be recruiting material for the Ku Klux Klan were found in Triangle.
Officers responded to the 4500 block of Forestburg Lane in Triangle at 7:42 p.m. Saturday, April 28, “to investigate suspicious pamphlets depicting hate propaganda” found
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Police: Images found on suspect’s phone, more charges expected
BRIEF County’s AAA bond rating reaffirmed
Each of the three major bond credit rating agencies (Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, and S&P Global Ratings) reaffirmed Prince William County’s financial position with AAA bond ratings – the highest credit
rating available. This triple-AAA reflects the financial strength and sound fiscal management of Prince William County and is an achievement held by less than two percent of the nation’s 3,190 counties, according to a news release.
Community Editor Anita Sherman, 540.351.1635 asherman@fauquier.com Staff Writers ISSN 1050-7655, USPS 188280 Amanda Heincer, 540-878-2418 Published every Wednesday by aheincer@fauquier.com Piedmont Media LLC James Ivancic, 540-878-2414 jivancic@fauquier.com How to reach us Leland Schwartz, 540-351-0488 ADDRESS: lschwartz@fauquier.com 41 Culpeper Street Warrenton, Virginia 20186 Jonathan Hunley PHONE: 540-347-4222 jhunley@fauquier.com FAX: 540-349-8676 HOURS: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. weekdays, Sports Editor 24-hour answering service Peter Brewington, 540-351-1169 pbrewington@fauquier.com Publisher Catherine M. Nelson, Sports Staff Writer 540-300-4780 Jeff Malmgren, 540-874-2250 cnelson@fauquier.com jmalmgren@fauquier.com NEWSROOM ADVERTISING Editor in Chief Ad Manager Chris Six, 540-212-6331 Kathy Mills Godfrey 540-351-1162 csix@fauquier.com kgodfrey@fauquier.com Managing Editor Classified Sales Consulatants Jill Palermo,540-351-0431 Jeanne Cobert, 540-878-2491 jpalermo@fauquier.com jcobert@fauquier.com Associate Editor Evelyn Cobert, 540-878-2492 John Toler, 540-351-0487 jtoler@fauquier.com ecobert@fauquier.com
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Gainesville/Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | May 2, 2018
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County steps up efforts against opioid abuse By Jonathan Hunley Times Staff Writer
The new budget that Prince William County supervisors approved last week will enhance the way the locality offers services to those with substance-abuse disorders, according to an official with the Community Services Board. Supervisors approved a $3.1 billion budget April 24 that adds $430,000 to combat substance abuse, including opioid use. That money will allow Community Services to do several things, said Jim Fleming, director of the agency’s administrative division. For one, Community Services will be able to serve 100 more people a year, going from the current 800 who are receiving treatment to 900. The organization should be able to eliminate its waiting list for substance-abuse help that usually stands at about 70 adults. The Community Services Board will also increase the number of slots for medication-assisted treatment, from 49 to 82, Fleming said.
The budget initiative will also allow Community Services to place 50 additional clients in residential treatment with private providers: 105 people are placed right now, and that figure will go up to 155. The money will also add three additional full-time counselors to help those suffering from addiction. “This is a really big step forward for us,” Fleming said. Despite this good news, the agency, which also serves Manassas and Manassas Park, still faces challenges, especially with regard to opioid use. The overall increase in opioid use is one, which can be fatal. In Prince William County, for example, 49 overdose deaths were attributed to opioids in 2017, equaling the figure from the year before, according to Virginia Department of Health figures. In Manassas, 12 overdose deaths were due to opioids last year, up from seven in 2016. And, in Manassas Park, there were four opioid overdose deaths in 2017, up from one in the previous year.
Also, from January through March this year, there were 61 emergency-room visits for unintentional overdose by opioid or an unspecified substance in the Prince William region, according to a Health Department report, and at least 10 emergency visits for unintentional overdose by heroin. Another challenge is getting the word out about the dangers of drug use, Fleming said. “We are working on the prevention side, too,” he said. Prevention activities include summer programming focused in areas with high numbers of at-risk youth and Revive! training, which is available to the community and specific groups. The latter offers the knowledge, skills and tools to administer the drug naloxone to prevent overdose deaths. Participants learn about opiates, opioid addiction, types of naloxone and rescue breathing. The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services also has provided Community Services with one-time funding of $60,000 to focus on prevention activ-
Funding boosts effort to combat opioid abuse
The new Prince William County budget devotes $430,000 in new funding to combat substance-use disorders. The funding is planned to: • Add 3 new counselors • Boost residential-treatment slots from 105 to 155 • Boost medical-assisted treatment slots from 49 to 82 Source: Prince William County Community Services Board
ities related to opiates, Fleming said. Those funds are being spent on activities including: Social marketing campaigns, targeted messaging and prescriber/patient education to heighten community awareness and education. Four community events to continue educating and raising awareness. The purchase of prescription-bag labels and drug deactivation kits for dispersal at drug take-back events and prescriber locations. Reach Jonathan Hunley at jhunley@fauquier.com.
Supervisors nix Stewart’s tax hike on data centers $3.1B budget fully funds schools, boosts spending on police, fire
By Jonathan Hunley Times Staff Writer
Prince William supervisors approved a $3.1 billion county budget last week that did not include a controversial hike in what’s become known as the “technology tax.” Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart, R-At Large, had proposed nearly tripling the property tax rate on “programmable computer equipment,” a move primarily aimed at data centers, in the fiscal year that begins July 1. But his peers opted to keep that rate, as well as the general real-estate tax rate, the same as they are now. They did, however, increase the county fire levy from $0.0792 to $0.08 per $100 in assessed value. The changes came during a meeting that saw more than three hours of discussion and a dizzying set of proposals, tie votes and two short recesses. Stewart wanted to take the computer equipment tax from $1.25 per $100 in assessed value to $3.70 per $100, or equal to the personal property tax rate residents pay for their cars and trucks. The county decreased the rate more than 20 years ago to draw hightech firms, and later data centers, to Prince William. Stewart figured the
market no longer needed that incentive, so he wanted to bring the rate back up. But some supervisors, as well as data center and business community advocates, railed against the idea. The board ended up voting 6 to 2 April 24 to keep the tax rate as-is. Stewart said it was a win for the data centers and a “loss for the citizens of the county.” “The tax break for big data continues, you know, unfortunately,” said the chairman, who with Supervisor John Jenkins, D-Neabsco, cast the dissenting votes. Board Vice Chairman Marty Nohe, R-Coles, however, was pleased. He has said raising business taxes doesn’t jibe with the county’s quest to boost commerce. “I think that shows that the board is committed to growing our economic base in this county and understands that we can’t make rash decisions without understanding their long-term ramifications,” Nohe said.
Budget keeps real-estate tax rate flat
The supervisors voted to maintain the current real-estate tax rate of $1.125 per $100 in assessed value. Average annual tax bills will still rise, however, thanks to rising real-estate
values and the fire-levy increase. The average real-estate tax bill increase is now projected at $132 for fiscal 2019. That’s $14 less than the $146 hike County Executive Chris Martino projected under his budget, which would have raised the fire levy to $0.0837. Supervisors opted for a smaller increase, boosting the current $0.0792 fire levy to $0.08. The fire-levy vote came after a long discussion about how best to staff emergency services and how volunteer fire-and-rescue organizations fit into that scenario. The vote was 5 to 3, with Stewart and Supervisors Frank Principi, D-Woodbridge, and Pete Candland, R-Gainesville, dissenting. The budget also provides a 3-percent raise for all county employees and an extra 5 percent, or about $5.2 million, to the police department budget, and an extra 10.7 percent, or $9.7 million, to the fire and rescue department budget. Both departments will add positions and institute new pay scales aimed at reducing pay “compression” issues that resulted from limited pay increases during the Great Recession. More than $3 million will go toward addressing the issue in the next fiscal year. Martino made the county’s police and fire departments a focus of his
budget proposal after a recent study blamed the county’s officer-turnover rate, the highest in Northern Virginia, on lagging pay.
Budget fully funds schools, but not teacher COLAs
The new budget fully funds the county’s portion of the school-division spending plan for next school year. The supervisors also renewed their annual, $1 million class-size reduction grant and provided an extra $888,694 in debt service for the 13th high school, which will open in western Prince William in 2021. The supervisors opted not to add money for teacher cost-of-living increases, an issue that brought several teachers to board meetings over the last few weeks. But they earmarked $500,000 for a pilot program to add five armed security guards for Prince William schools. A 2017 state law allows school divisions to hire retired police officers as armed guards if they meet certain criteria. The school board will have the final say on whether the program is implemented. Reach Jonathan Hunley at jhunley@fauquier.com.
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