Loudoun Jury Clears Schools Spokesman of Perjury

Loudoun County Spokesman Found Not Guilty of Perjury in Bathroom Rape Coverup Case

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — In a stunning turn of events, Wayde Byard, the suspended spokesman of Loudoun County Public Schools, has been acquitted of perjury charges related to the coverup of a horrific bathroom rape. The jury, consisting of eight men and four women, deliberated for 90 minutes before reaching their verdict.

Chief Judge Douglas Fleming delivered the news, saying, “You are free to go sir.” Byard expressed his gratitude, embracing his wife, and even mentioned that he was “probably gonna go party.” This verdict marks the latest development in a story that first broke through The Daily Wire, shedding light on the radical gender theory embraced by public schools and ultimately contributing to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s surprising victory fueled by parental anger.

The incident involved a troubled cross-dressing student who was later convicted of raping a classmate in a girls’ restroom. The victim’s father was even arrested for protesting at a school board meeting, and a scathing grand jury report criticized multiple officials for mishandling the matter.

Byard, along with Communications Director Joan Sahlgren and now-indicted Superintendent Scott Ziegler, drafted a statement that downplayed the incident, referring to it as an “angry parent” situation without mentioning the rape or the threat it posed to the student body.

Principal Timothy Flynn testified that he explicitly informed Byard about the rape and the father’s anger on that fateful day. However, the defense argued that Flynn’s memory was unreliable, citing a discrepancy in the timing of a videoconference. Defense attorney Jennifer Laffer acknowledged Flynn’s imperfect recollection but emphasized that he did his best.

Prosecutors countered, questioning why Flynn would inform other officials but not Byard, whose role involved managing the school system’s reputation. They argued that it defied common sense to believe that Byard was unaware of the parent’s distress. Additionally, they highlighted the high-level meeting held by top officials, suggesting that they were well aware of the severity of the situation.

During the trial, Sahlgren’s testimony wavered, initially stating that she believed Byard had informed her about the rape but later expressing uncertainty. The defense capitalized on Superintendent Ziegler’s false statements denying any reports of sexual assault in bathrooms, asserting that Byard had no reason to doubt his boss.

Scott Smith, the father of the rape victim, viewed Byard’s actions as the beginning of a coverup. He expressed frustration, stating, “We feel that the coverup started immediately that day on May 28 and continues to this day. It seems no one can tell the truth or remember what happened.”

Throughout the trial, Loudoun’s top officials struggled to recall crucial details, a fact that did not go unnoticed by both sides’ lawyers. Prosecutors anticipate that Byard will be reinstated in his position following his acquittal, potentially placing Sahlgren and others in an uncomfortable position if they testified against him.

Theo Stamos, the lead prosecutor and a former elected Democrat prosecutor, emphasized that Byard’s role as a paid communicator made his alleged perjury all the more significant. Stamos argued, “The defendant is a paid communicator… His stock in trade is words… He knows everything that’s going on, he’s been in the school system for longer than any of these people. He asks questions and knows where the bodies are buried.”

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