By Nick Minock, reprinted from wjla.com, May 22, 2025
FAIRFAX, Va. (7News) — On Friday, an Arlington court preliminary hearing took place for tier three registered sex offender Richard Cox, who faces more than 20 charges related to exposing himself in women’s locker rooms at Washington Liberty High School, Wakefield High School, and Barcroft Sports and Fitness Center last year.
A day before, 7News learned the preliminary hearing was canceled, and a status hearing was scheduled for June. Richard Cox’s defense team moved to continue the preliminary hearing without objection from the Arlington Commonwealth’s Attorney based upon new information that was recently provided in discovery, according to court documents.
Cox, who identifies as transgender, was allowed to access the women’s locker rooms because of Arlington County’s and Arlington Public Schools’ transgender locker room policies.
But even though Cox allegedly exposed himself in multiple Fairfax County recreation centers and Planet Fitness women’s locker rooms, according to witnesses and police last year, Fairfax County police have not charged Cox with any crimes.
For over two months, 7News Reporter Nick Minock has asked for an interview with Police Chief Kevin Davis to explain why. Davis declined to be interviewed or answer questions in writing. But the Fairfax County Executive agreed to answer 7News’ questions on camera on Thursday.
“I can speak for the police chief,” Bryan Hill said in an interview with 7News.
That’s because Hill is the Fairfax County Executive, and Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis reports to the deputy county executive, and the deputy county executive reports to Hill.
“A lot of people are wondering why Fairfax County police have not charged Richard Cox for things like indecent exposure and indecent liberties with children. Those are some of the charges he’s facing in Arlington County, but not in Fairfax County. Why is that?” Minock asked Hill.
“Unfortunately, it’s a situation we are all trying to resolve, obviously,” said Hill. “That’s why you are here. When we asked the Commonwealth’s Attorney if there were criminal charges that we could press, they stated, no, I can’t press a charge. I can’t charge the person.”
“As the county executive, what is your message to Fairfax County Commonwealth [Attorney] Steve Descano, who refused to prosecute this case against Mr. Cox?” Minock asked Hill.
“Well, I’m sure Mr. Desano is going to be watching this video with you and myself, and I’m sure he’s going to take a different tack going forward,” answered Hill.
Some victims in Arlington County point to Descano, who did not prosecute Cox when he allegedly exposed himself in women’s Planet Fitness locker rooms months before he allegedly exposed himself in Arlington County women’s locker rooms and women’s locker rooms at Fairfax County rec centers.
“This could have been prevented had Fairfax County, they say, stepped up, filed charges, prosecuted Mr. Cox, what do you have to say about that?” Minock asked Hill.
“I think you need to have a conversation with the Commonwealth’s Attorney,” said Hill. “That’s what I have to say.”
7News has tried multiple times, however, Descano has refused to do an interview with 7News about this topic.
Hill answers to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. That’s why 7News asked Hill why hasn’t the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passed any policy that would prevent sex offenders from going into county rec centers and exposing themselves in locker rooms. His answer:
“I’m going to say this to you again. This is one case over a multitude of years, multiple years, one case, right?” Hill answered.
Cox, who identifies as transgender, was able to use the women’s locker rooms at Fairfax County rec centers because of the county’s policy. According to the county and police, Cox visited Audrey Moore Rec Center, Oakmont Rec Center, and Franconia Rec Center last year.
7News has repeatedly asked for interviews with County Supervisors James Walkinshaw, Rodney Lusk, and Dalia Palchik about the situation because their districts include those rec centers. Walkinshaw, Lusk, and Palchik never responded to the interview requests or the following question:
[Do you] support allowing males to use female locker rooms at county rec centers and schools?
When 7News tried asking Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay similar questions, he quickly walked away and ultimately went into a bathroom to avoid the questions.
“Is the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors going to change their policy that allows biological men to use biological females’ locker rooms and Fairfax County rec centers? Why or why not?” Minock asked Hill.
“So, I will say this to you again,” answered Hill. “We have had one situation. We have given a one-trespass, no trespass policy. That person comes on our property, he will be arrested. We have trans, we have bathrooms, all-gender bathrooms associated throughout the facilities, and people will use those bathrooms. This issue is one issue, one off.”
7News was the first to obtain the surveillance video of Cox entering women’s locker rooms at Oakmont Rec Center, Audrey Moore Rec Center, and Franconia Rec Center and being within touching distance of children in the rec centers. 7News was also the first to obtain the body cam video from Fairfax County police’s response to Cox visiting Oakmont Rec Center on two occasions.
A HISTORY OF INCIDENTS
Cox previously admitted he suffers compulsions to expose himself in public places, according to a letter Cox wrote to a judge in 1995.
According to court records, the Augustus Institute’s Clinical Director wrote in 1992 that Cox “suffers from a severe form of the sexual paraphilia of exhibitionism” and that Cox has “compulsive sexual behaviors.”
Cox is on the sex offenders list. Cox is a Tier III sex offender, according to court documents. Tier III offenses are the most serious type of sex offense with a required registration period of life.
On May 18, 1992, an Arlington County Grand Jury charged Cox with knowingly and intentionally exposing his genitals to a child under 14 years old.
7News reviewed Arlington County Circuit Court documents from the 1990s and confirmed that Cox was convicted of taking indecent liberties with children in Arlington. In 1992, Cox visited a gymnasium and exposed himself to multiple children, according to the court records. The investigation at the time said Cox held his penis in his hand and masturbated in front of the children. The court documents listed Cox as a male.
In 2007, Cox was convicted of six counts of possessing obscene materials with a minor in Fairfax County, according to the Virginia State Police’s sex offender registry.
A TIMELINE OF INCIDENTS LOCALLY
Here is a timeline of Cox’s alleged visits to female locker rooms in Arlington and Fairfax Counties in 2024, according to police and witnesses:
The Virginia Department of Corrections told 7News that Cox has served several prison sentences from: