Former Loudoun County Schools Chief’s Guilty Verdict Overturned Due to Jury Instruction Error
LEESBURG, Va. (AP) — A judge in Loudoun County set aside the guilty verdict against former schools chief Scott Ziegler, who was convicted of retaliating against a teacher who accused officials of withholding protection from a student who inappropriately touched her. Chief Circuit Court Judge Douglas L. Fleming Jr. granted a new trial, citing incorrect jury instructions in the misdemeanor case. While setting aside the verdict, Judge Fleming acknowledged that there was enough evidence to sustain a conviction against Ziegler, who was fired in 2022 for mishandling sexual assault cases. The incident drew national attention … Read more