Cape Charles Teacher Pleads Guilty To Aggravated Sexual Battery



Aaron Daniel Siegrist

 Written by
Connie Morrison
Aaron Daniel Siegrist, of Cape Charles, pled guilty to aggravated sexual battery on November 19th in Northampton County Circuit Court.

Mr. Siegrist was employed as a 4th grade teacher at Occohannock Elementary School in Northampton County until his arrest, when he was suspended pending the outcome.

According to Commonwealths Attorney Bruce Jones, the 5-year-old victim was a friend of Mr. Siegrists 5-year-old daughter. The two families were close friends, and on August 31, after the two families spent the day together, the victim spent the night with the Siegrist family. During the night, after consuming a large quantity of vodka, Mr. Siegrist sexually abused the 5-year-old girl as she lay on the living room floor.

When the victim returned home the next day, she immediately told her parents about the abuse, and police were called. The victim was taken to the Child Abuse Center at the Childrens Hospital of the Kings Daughters for a video-taped interview. Her interview was characterized as credible by all who saw it, and DNA evidence from the girls underpants was consistent with the victims account.

As part of the investigation, Mr. Siegrists home computer was seized, and Mr. Jones said that computer content indicated Mr. Siegrists deviant interest in young girls did not arise the day of the incident.

Mr. Jones added that the sentencing guidelines in this case are shamefully low, and when the matter comes before the judge for sentencing, he intends to seek a sentence that exceeds the guidelines to reflect the gravity of the offense. Judge W. Revell Lewis III found Mr. Siegrist guilty, and continued the matter for sentencing. Mr. Siegrist was remanded to the custody of the Sheriff.

Regarding Mr. Siegrists employment with Northampton County Schools, Superintendent Dr. Walter R. Clemons said that under state law, the school divisions are not permitted to keep people employed who have been convicted of felonies. Now that there is a conviction of a felony as it relates to Mr. Siegrist, he said, we will follow the appropriate protocols to end employment with the school division, as we would with any employee who has actually been convicted of a felony.

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