A sex offender is facing numerous charges after he allegedly exposed himself inside the girls’ locker room at the Washington-Liberty High School pool.

The incident on Monday, Oct. 21 is coming to light now and receiving national attention after WJLA reported that Richard Kenneth Cox was allowed to access the girl’s locker room at the W-L aquatics center, which is open to the public for certain portions of the day , after identifying as a transgender.

Unnamed “mothers and women” told the local TV station that they voiced concerns about Cox to the Arlington School Board but were ignored.

Before Cox was charged in October, a woman told 7News that she told the pool manager about the situation in September 2024, but she said the manager allowed Cox to continue to use the girl’s locker room because he identified as transgender. The woman said she called the school board and reported the situation, but the Arlington School Board did not respond to her.

Sheriff’s Office and court records show that Cox is facing 22 separate charges connected to the Oct. 21 incident and others.

He’s facing two counts of indecent exposure for an Oct. 30 incident, one for a Dec. 2 incident, two charges of indecent liberties with a child on Dec. 2, and 15 charges of entering or loitering around a school or daycare property as a sex offender, connected to a range of dates from October to early December. He was also charged with identity theft on Dec. 6, when court records show he was arrested.

Cox is next due in court on March 3.

Word of the charges has prompted statements from the Arlington GOP and former independent School Board candidate James “Vell” Rives.

“The actions of Arlington County employees and leaders further endangered women and girls,” the local GOP alleges. “County employees and leaders allowed a known, convicted sexual predator to terrorize women inside a high school women’s locker room. This is unconscionable, and people must be held accountable.”

(The Arlington GOP has also accused local social network Nextdoor of censoring its chairman’s post linking to the WJLA story.)

Rives, who feuded with a local LGBTQ+ advocacy group over a transgender nondiscrimination policy at Arlington Public Schools this past election cycle, pointed a finger at the School Board.

“THIS is EXACTLY what our School Board has been assuring us would NOT happen,” Rives wrote. “APS has never had a REAL conversation about these policies — a conversation that includes different perspectives. I believe there is actually common ground on these issues — let’s work to find it.”

APS, meanwhile, told WJLA that it investigated complaints about Cox, contacted police and barred him from using the pool facilities.

“APS permits pool patrons to access restrooms and facilities that correspond to their gender identity. 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,” an Arlington Public Schools spokesperson told 7News.