2023

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 Smith Appeal of Disorderly Conduct Conviction Heads to Jury Trial

RICHMOND, VA - Governor Youngkin has granted an absolute pardon to Scott Smith, the Loudoun County father who was wrongfully prosecuted and convicted for standing up for his daughter at a 2021 Loudoun County School Board meeting after she was sexually assaulted at school.  

“Scott Smith is a dedicated parent who’s faced unwarranted charges in his pursuit to protect his daughter. Scott’s commitment to his child despite the immense obstacles is emblematic of the parental empowerment movement that started in Virginia,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “In Virginia, parents matter and my resolve to empower parents is unwavering. A parent’s fundamental right to be involved in their child’s education, upbringing, and care should never be undermined by bureaucracy, school divisions or the state. I am pleased to grant Scott Smith this pardon and help him and his family put this injustice behind them once and for all.” 

In his commitment to the parents and students of Loudoun County, the Governor issued an executive order on his first day in office to initiate an investigation into the sexual assaults in Loudoun County. Following the Attorney General’s incriminating investigation into the sexual assault cover-up, Superintendent Ziegler has been fired. Under Governor Youngkin’s leadership and actions, Loudoun County parents are getting the accountability and transparency they deserve. 

Read Governor Youngkin’s pardon of Scott Smith, link below.

Scott Smith spoke to reporters after the report was released publicly. 

The 7News I-Team exclusively obtained a cell phone video recorded on June 1, 2021-- just four days after the daughter of Scott and Jessica Smith was sexually assaulted in a bathroom at Stone Bridge High School in Loudoun County, Va.  The Smiths were back days later at Stone Bridge because their daughter called and said a promised safety plan wasn't in place on her first day back to class. The Smiths, escorted by a Loudoun County Sheriff's Deputy, came face to face with school resource officer Tavis Henry, who's also a deputy with the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.  On the day of the attack, the Smiths told 7News they asked Officer Henry multiple times if they could leave Stone Bridge and take their daughter to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, only nine miles away.  The Officer admits in the video he didn't allow them to leave when initially requested.