Jaryn Crouson | January 26, 2025
(Daily Caller News Foundation) — The Arlington Public Schools (APS) Superintendent released a statement recently affirming the district’s commitment to “inclusive” facilities after a registered sex offender was caught repeatedly exposing himself to young girls in a locker room on school property.
Richard K. Cox, a tier three registered sex offender who was first charged with indecent liberties in Arlington in 1992, was arrested in December 2024 after several people reported a naked man watching women in the changing room of the Arlington Aquatic Center, which shares facilities with Washington Liberty-High School, according to ABC 7News. The man apparently identifies as a transgender woman.
When asked about the incident, APS Superintendent Francisco Durán released a statement doubling down on the district’s commitment to building an “inclusive community” for “those who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community,” stating, “[o]ur facilities are designed to be safe, welcoming spaces where our community can come to connect, engage and focus on their health and well-being,” according to the statement obtained by 7News.
“APS permits pool patrons to access restrooms and facilities that correspond to their gender identity,” an APS spokesman told 7News. “We take every report of concerning or unsafe behavior very seriously and do not tolerate behaviors from any individual who is threatening or making others feel unsafe. APS responded to all patron concerns related to this matter in a timely manner and took appropriate and immediate action to investigate, notify law enforcement, and prevent the individual from returning to our pool facilities.”
Durán claims APS took action “immediately” to address the concerns, but some women allege the school was aware of Cox’s presence at the school months prior.