FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — Registered sex offender Richard Cox allegedly exposed himself to women and girls in the women’s locker room at Oakmont Rec Center in November 2024, but he also allegedly exposed himself in the female locker room at Audrey Moore Rec Center in Annadale in November, according to Fairfax County.

A Fairfax County police report first obtained by 7News said Cox was allowed to use the Audrey Moore Rec Center women’s locker room because he identified as transgender. That is the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ policy.

The police report also said that when police provided the facts of the case to Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano’s office, Descano’s office told them there were no criminal elements for a charge.

On Thursday, 7News emailed Descano’s office and asked why he didn’t pursue charges against Cox for allegedly exposing himself to women and children at Fairfax County rec centers. Descano’s office hasn’t answered yet.

This is yet another example of Descano not prosecuting Cox last year, even though his office knew Cox was a sex offender.

Cox was also accused of exposing himself in the women’s locker room at a Fairfax County Planet Fitness in June. Descano didn’t prosecute him. In that case, Descano’s office told 7News they do not prosecute cases when a defendant chooses not to have an attorney. A judge ultimately dismissed the case.

Cox previously admitted he suffers compulsions to expose himself in public places , according to a letter Cox wrote to a judge in 1995.

New police body cam video first obtained by 7News shows Fairfax police frustrated with Fairfax County staff when they called police to trespass Cox at Oakmont Rec Center in November 2024.

Even though Oakmont Rec staff knew Cox was a sex offender, they allowed Cox to use the women’s locker room again and didn’t tell him he couldn’t be there.

“How was he able to check in if he’s not allowed to be in here?” a police officer asked Oakmont Rec Center staff.

“He scanned in and went by,” the Oakmont Rec Center manager told police.

“Once he’s allowed access into the building, he’s technically not trespassing,” the officer told rec center staff.

“Your guys are confused,” a Fairfax County police officer told the deputy director of the Fairfax County Park Authority, Sara Baldwin, when she arrived at Oakmont Rec Center. “There is so much confusion in there that it is unreal. You all allowed him to come into the property. He scanned like everybody else. He was never informed that he’s been trespassed.”

“They are violating my civil rights,” Cox told police at Oakmont Rec Center in November 2024. “So, they called the police before they even asked me to leave. Do you see how hostile that is? They sent somebody down in the locker room with a radio to make it look like I was being arrested. It just seems more criminal what they are doing to me than anything they say I’ve done to them.”

Fairfax County police explained to Fairfax County staff the proper way to trespass Cox. And now, Cox is not allowed to return to Fairfax County rec centers.

Right now, Cox is in the men’s Arlington County jail, awaiting his hearing on Monday. He faces more than 20 charges in Arlington County, where he's accused of allegedly exposing himself to women and girls in female locker rooms in an Arlington rec center and at two Arlington schools that have pools open to the public after school hours.

On Thursday, Arlington Public Schools (APS) told 7News they have now implemented a system at their schools to check visitors against the sex offender registry. This change came after 7News was the first to report that Cox allegedly exposed himself to women and girls in female locker rooms at two Arlington schools. The locations Cox allegedly visited in Arlington are Barcroft Sports and Fitness Center, Washington Liberty High School, and Wakefield High School.

“We have fully implemented the visitor management system at all three pools,” APS spokesperson Frank Bellavia told 7News on Thursday. “We use Raptor for our visitor management system, which mirrors what is in place at all of our schools. The system is part self-service and requires staff monitoring. Pool staff will follow our procedures if a person is flagged.

The Arlington Superintendent sent a letter to all families and pool patrons earlier this month, outlining updated pool entry procedures , including the addition of School Security Coordinators to be present at the pools beginning this weekend, said Bellavia.

Although Cox has not been reported to have visited Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) facilities, 7News Reporter Nick Minock asked FCPS if they were going to implement a similar policy as APS since Cox has visited other Fairfax County properties.

“FCPS continues to prioritize the safety of our students and staff,” an FCPS spokesperson told 7News. “During the school day, all visitors to FCPS schools must follow a registration process utilizing a Visitor Management System. This system scans relevant visitor identification and instantaneously checks against a nationwide sex offender database. Once cleared, a visitor’s ID badge is printed and must be displayed on the visitor’s clothing at all times. If the individual seeking access does not clear the Visitor Management System, they are denied entry to the school. Only authorized visitors are allowed in a school building during the school day.”

On Thursday, 7News emailed several questions to Fairfax County about how the county handled Cox’s visit to county rec centers, including if they’re going to implement a similar policy that APS has that will check visitors against the sex offender registry.

“Fairfax County Park Authority’s facilities are public, unlike a school environment or a private enterprise,” a Fairfax County spokesman told 7News Reporter Nick Minock in an email. “Our understanding based on no charges being filed against Mr. Cox is there was legal right to access the rec center. The Park Authority and the County continue to advocate for state legislation to extend the prohibitions in place for sex offenders to include local rec center and park facilities. Unfortunately, HB 2527 did not advance during this legislative session, failing in the Court of Justice Committee and later in the Appropriations Committee in February. The Park Authority strives to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all patrons. Following the incident, a new standard operating procedure was created by the Park Authority, in consultation with the County Attorney and Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs, permitting FCPA staff to direct guests to use the family changing room or a single stall bathroom.”

Minock asked Fairfax County has the county implemented new security protocols after Cox visited county rec centers.

“Following the incident, a new standard operating procedure was created by the Park Authority, in consultation with the County Attorney and Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs, permitting FCPA staff to direct guests to use the family changing room or a single stall bathroom,” a county spokesperson answered.

Minock asked Fairfax County why didn’t the Park Authority cancel Richard Cox’s rec center membership as soon as they learned he was a sex offender.

“Upon learning of the offender’s status on Nov. 14, 2024 FCPA immediately consulted with the Fairfax County Police Department to determine the appropriate legal actions to ban Mr. Cox from all rec centers,” a Fairfax County spokesperson answered. “The following day, working in coordination with the County Attorney and FCPD, the Park Authority initiated the ban. That same day, staff were directed to immediately notify Fairfax County Police if the offender was identified on-site, ensuring that any trespass issues were promptly handled in collaboration with the Police Department. Mr. Cox was issued the ban on Nov. 16, 2024 at Oakmont Rec Center, and his rec center credentials were immediately deactivated.”

Fairfax County says they learned Cox was a sex offender on November 14, 2024.


Cox allegedly visited Oakmont Rec Center on November 3rd and November 16th last year and visited Audrey Moore Rec Center on November 15, 2024.

7News asked Fairfax County why did the Park Authority allow Cox to enter Oakmont Rec Center on November 16, 2024, and use the women’s locker room when they knew he was a registered sex offender.

“On the previous day, FCPA coordinated with the police department on a plan instructing staff to call law enforcement upon Mr. Cox’s arrival and work with police to issue the ban,” a Fairfax County spokesperson answered. “When staff recognized Mr. Cox, they activated the plan by calling the police as directed to facilitate the ban on-site.

7News also asked Fairfax County how many county rec centers did Richard Cox visit in the last two years and how many times did he visit.

“Mr. Cox visited three rec centers, a total of four times - not including the day he was banned from all rec center facilities,” a Fairfax County spokesperson answered.

7News is working to learn the third Fairfax County rec center Cox visited.