The Attorney General of Virginia has strongly criticized local county officials for not taking action against a registered sex offender who identified as a woman, allowing him access to girls’ locker rooms. He indicated there is conclusive evidence that the individual was intentionally targeting young girls at various pools and water parks in the affluent Washington, DC area.
Richard Cox, a 58-year-old registered sex offender with a lengthy criminal history, allegedly exposed himself to young girls and women in girls’ locker rooms. Law enforcement stated he also possessed child pornography and had a list of girls’ swim class schedules saved on his phone.
Despite these troubling findings, authorities in Fairfax County—a region managed by a Democratic-majority board—have stated that they do not intend to charge Cox for his visits to three recreational centers frequented by children, as reported by WSET.
Cox was eventually arrested in adjoining Arlington County, where he is facing multiple charges related to sex crimes.
Video evidence obtained by WSET captured Cox, a biological male, entering women’s locker rooms at Fairfax County’s Oakmont, Audrey Moore, and Franconia rec centers in the previous year.
The footage also shows him exiting Fairfax County’s “Our Special Harbor Spray Park,” specifically designed for young children with disabilities.
Cox had informed the staff at Fairfax County recreational centers that he identified as a transgender woman, and, following the county’s transgender policy, he was allowed access to the women’s locker rooms.
Reports from victims suggest he exploited this policy to expose himself to girls and women, as WSET highlighted.
Following revelations last week regarding the swimming schedules of girls found on Cox’s phone, the Fairfax County Police reiterated that they do not plan to file any charges against him.
The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) released a statement affirming that their investigation yielded no probable cause for charges against Cox within Fairfax County.
Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano has yet to respond to requests for comments from the media.
On Friday, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares asserted that Cox was actively seeking out girls in Fairfax County and urged lawmakers to allow his office the authority to enact legislation that would enable his office to prosecute sex crimes that local prosecutors fail to act on.
“It is apparent, given his previous behavior, that he was systematically targeting children for sexual gratification,” Miyares remarked.
“His possession of the girls’ swim team schedules indicates he meticulously planned where to go in order to infiltrate their safe environments,” he added.
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“To this day, despite numerous exposure incidents, the Commonwealth Attorney’s office in Fairfax County has chosen not to initiate proceedings against Cox,” Miyares stated.
The lack of action from Fairfax County allowed Cox to explore other locations in Arlington County, contributing to further incidents, the Attorney General noted.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, which oversees the police department, has only one Republican member, Pat Herrity, who has criticized the board’s transgender policies.
“Discovering the swimming schedules for children on Richard Cox’s phone is both shocking and concerning,” he expressed.
“This is a direct result of the Board of Supervisors’ policy that has facilitated these events, which still enable such occurrences today. Biological males should not be allowed in girls’ and women’s locker rooms, that’s a straightforward principle,” Herrity commented, being the only board member to respond to the inquiry regarding the matter.
Cox is classified as a Tier III sex offender, the most severe level that mandates lifetime registration, according to court records. He was first entered on the registry in 1998, as documented here.
In December, he was apprehended for allegedly spying on women while fully nude in the female changing areas of a swimming center in Arlington, which also services Washington-Liberty High School.
Arlington Public Schools allow individuals to use facilities corresponding to their gender identity.
He has had several altercations with law enforcement for similar offenses prior to his arrest, prompting numerous complaints.
Cox faces a total of 29 charges linked to a series of sex crimes dating back to 2024, based on jail records.
