Richard K. Cox Guilty of 12 Child-Proximity Loitering Felonies
Published on October 01, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cwacomms@arlingtonva.us
October 1, 2026
Richard K. Cox Guilty of 12 Felony Charges of Loitering After Conviction of an Offense Prohibiting Proximity to Children; 14 Additional Charges Remain Pending
October 1, 2026, ARLINGTON, VA.: Richard K. Cox entered pleas of no contest to 12 sex offender felony loitering charges in the Arlington County Circuit Court today, and the Court found Mr. Cox guilty on each count.
The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney appealed the earlier Circuit Court decision to dismiss these charges, and the Virginia Court of Appeals, reversing the Circuit Court, allowed for the loitering charges to be reinstituted. Each of the 12 loitering charges are a Class 6 felony offenses, and each charge carries a penalty of up to five years of incarceration in the Department of Corrections. Collectively, the charges expose Mr. Cox to a potential maximum sentence of up to 60 years in prison, with the final sentence to be determined by the Court.
In addition to convictions on these 12 felony loitering charges, the Commonwealth in February 2026 secured two convictions against Mr. Cox for possession of child pornography (2nd or subsequent offense) after a jury trial. Each charge carries a maximum penalty by statute of ten years of incarceration in the Department of Corrections. The two possessions of child pornography charges expose Mr. Cox to a potential maximum of up to 20 years in prison.
Both sets of charges for which Mr. Cox has been convicted are pending sentencing. Fourteen additional charges against Mr. Cox remain pending and are not affected by the pleas. Those pending charges include: Five counts of Indecent Liberties, Five counts of Indecent Exposure, Three counts of Unlawful Presence on School Property by a Tier III Sex Offender, and One count of Identity Theft.
The Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney continues to pursue all 14 remaining charges.
Under Virginia law, defendants have the right to enter a guilty or no contest plea at any stage of the proceedings, and Mr. Cox elected to plead without agreement or consideration from the Commonwealth: there are no sentencing agreements, and no charges are being amended or dismissed.
The remaining charges are set for a jury trial beginning on January 11, 2027.
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