Report on Loudoun County Public Schools released following special grand jury investigation

LEESBURG, Va. - A special grand jury released a report Monday on how Loudoun County Public Schools handled two different sexual assault cases involving the same student suspect. 

The special grand jury, which was made up of Loudoun County citizens randomly selected to serve as jurors, began their investigation in April. There were more than 40 witnesses and 100 pieces of evidence collected to put together the report. 

It focuses on how LCPS and the Loudoun County School Board responded after a 15-year-old student assaulted a schoolmate at Stone Bridge High School, and then while awaiting trial then allegedly sexually assaulted another teenage girl at Broad Run High School. In January, a judge found the 15-year-old guilty of sexual battery, abduction and two counts of sodomy in the sexual assault at Stone Bridge High School. 

"They (LCPS) failed at every juncture," the report states. "LCPS as an organization tends to avoid managing difficult situations by not addressing them fully."

Read the full report below. 

In response to the report, Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney Buta Biberaj released the following statement:

"We appreciate the time and interest the Special Grand Jury dedicated to this tragic event that was the cause of considerable harm to the victims. As the Special Grand Jury determined, the information shared was at times sparse, incomplete, or untimely. These limitations are detrimental to the expediency of the administration of justice. The lesson that we should take away is that we can’t continue to operate in silos when the safety of our children, or anyone in the community, is at stake. We invite all the involved entities to come together and move forward towards developing comprehensive responses to such matters. We stand ready and willing to work with our community partners to establish a "formalized protocol emphasizing better communication" as recommended by the Grand Jury."

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said the school system failed the victims when they needed them the most in a video statement. 

Loudoun County Public Schools told FOX 5 that at their next school board meeting, they will discuss the report and take action. 

LCPS released a statement saying: "In spite of the recent allegations we are pleased that the Special Grand Jury’s extensive investigation found no evidence of criminal conduct on the part of anyone within LCPS, and not a single indictment was filed as a result of this lengthy process."