Registered Sex Offender Exposed Himself to Girls in Washington-Liberty HS Pool Locker Rooms
A registered sex offender gained access to the female locker rooms at the Washington-Liberty High School pool (Arlington Aquatic Center) and allegedly exposed himself to girls. When the incidents came to light, Arlington Public Schools initially doubled down on its “inclusive” facilities policy. Only after public pressure did APS revise security protocols to include ID checks and sex offender registry screening.
Key Facts
Timeline of Events
Every date and fact below is cited to its source. Click the bracketed links to verify.
Mother's complaint dismissed by pool manager
A mother reported that her 9-year-old daughter encountered Cox naked in the girls’ locker room. The pool manager allowed Cox to continue using the girls’ locker room because he identified as transgender.
Sex offender arrested for incidents at W-L pool
Richard Kenneth Cox, a registered sex offender, accessed the female locker rooms at the Washington-Liberty High School pool facility (also known as the Arlington Aquatic Center) and allegedly exposed himself to girls. The pool facilities are shared between the school and the broader community, creating access opportunities that went unchecked. The sex offender was arrested on October 21, 2024.
Superintendent publicly addresses the arrest
The new APS superintendent publicly addressed the October 2024 arrest, acknowledging the incidents had occurred in the school’s pool facilities.
APS initially defends 'inclusive' facilities policy
When pressed on how a registered sex offender gained access to female locker rooms, Arlington Public Schools initially doubled down on its “inclusive” facilities policy. Rather than immediately acknowledging the security failure, APS defended the existing framework that had allowed the offender access.
APS revises security protocols after public pressure
Following public outcry, APS consulted with Arlington County and revised its security protocols for the pool facilities. The new measures included checking IDs and running sex offender registry checks on individuals using the facilities. These were basic safeguards that should have been in place long before a registered sex offender was able to expose himself to children.
Questions remain about policy priorities
The incident raised serious questions about APS’s priorities — why an “inclusive” facilities policy was maintained even after it enabled a registered sex offender to access spaces where girls were changing. Critics noted that basic security measures like ID checks and registry screening should never have been considered optional at facilities used by children.
Cox convicted of child pornography
Cox was convicted of two counts of possession of child pornography (second or subsequent offense), facing up to 20 years. He still awaits trial on indecent exposure charges scheduled for April 2026.
What Went Wrong
No Sex Offender Screening
The Washington-Liberty pool facilities had no process for checking whether individuals accessing the locker rooms were on the sex offender registry — a basic safeguard for any facility used by children.
No ID Checks
Individuals could access the female locker rooms at the school pool without presenting identification, allowing a registered sex offender to enter unchecked.
Policy Over Safety
When the incidents became public, APS initially doubled down on its 'inclusive' facilities policy rather than immediately addressing the glaring security failure that had put children at risk.
Reactive, Not Proactive
ID checks and sex offender registry screening were only implemented after a registered sex offender exposed himself to girls — measures that should have been standard from the start.
All Sources
Every fact on this page is sourced from the following reporting. We encourage you to read the original articles and verify every claim.
- ARLnow: “New superintendent addresses arrest of sex offender for incidents at W-L pool”
- Defending Education: “Arlington Public Schools consults county, revises pool security after sex offender exposed himself in female locker rooms”
- WJLA (ABC 7): “Registered sex offender Richard Cox: timeline and case history”
- ARLnow: “Sex offender again convicted of possessing child pornography, awaits indecent exposure trial”
Children deserve basic safety.
A registered sex offender exposed himself to girls in a school pool locker room. APS’s first instinct was to defend the policy that allowed it. Only public outrage forced change.
Related Incidents
APS Employee Stalking Student
Timothy McGhee, 47, an APS employee, was arrested for allegedly initiating an inappropriate sexual relationship with a juvenile female student.
Adult Illegal Alien Gropes 12+ Girls at Fairfax High
Israel Christopher Flores-Ortiz, an 18-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador, was enrolled as a junior and serially groped approximately 12 female students over months. Charged with misdemeanors. County refused ICE detainer.
Osbourn Park HS Bathroom Assault & MS-13 Recruitment
A student was sexually assaulted in a bathroom by an individual in an animal mask. Three students were separately charged for MS-13 recruitment at the same school.