NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — An assistant principal at Warwick High School in Newport News was arrested Wednesday on felony charges related to sex crimes against children.
According to arrest records, Jason Taylor, 45, faces 13 felony charges in the city of Chesapeake for incidents that happened between 2015 and 2018 and involved a teenage girl.
The charges include taking indecent liberties with a child, intercourse with victim by force, threat or intimidation and by force, threat of mentally incapable victim over the age of 13.
A spokesperson with Newport News Public Schools confirmed Thursday morning that Taylor is the Assistant Principal of Operations at Warwick High School. She said he was taken into police custody due to charges stemming from allegations from several years ago before he was employed by Newport News Public Schools.
13News Now interviewed Taylor back in 2021 for a story about creating opportunities for students and families who speak Spanish.
"We had some attendance concerns and when we were following up with some families we realized the message was not kind of really getting out," said Taylor.
Now, Taylor is suspended without pay per state code, the spokesperson said.
13News Now is working to learn more about what led to Taylor's arrest. Records show that he is currently being held by police without bond.
Taylor appeared in Chesapeake Circuit Court Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. for a preliminary hearing, where he was formally charged with six counts of sodomy, one count of rape and six counts of indecent liberties.
His next court date is set for November 10, 2022.