Longtime Loudoun County Public Schools spokesperson Wayde Byard is charged with felony perjury, accused of lying to a special grand jury investigating the district.

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — The first day of a high-profile perjury trial against the Loudoun County Public Schools spokesperson wrapped up with testimony from a high school principal.

Wayde Byard is charged with felony perjury for allegedly lying under oath about when he knew a 14-year-old female student was sexually assaulted by a classmate in May 2021.

The same perpetrator transferred to Broad Run High School later in the year where he sexually assaulted another girl. The teen was later convicted in juvenile court.

The controversy over how the school district handled the cases catapulted Loudoun County into the national spotlight. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R-Virginia, used it as a campaign platform and launched an executive order as soon as he was sworn into office to investigate LCPS.

During the special grand jury, which lasted for months and involved 40 witnesses, Byard said he was unaware of allegations of sexual assaults months after the second incident.

The Commonwealth accused Byard of making a false statement, arguing the principal of Stone Bridge High School, where the first incident took place, informed him of the allegations.

The prosecution said Principal Tim Flynn called Byard to tell him “everything” including that the female student made allegations she was raped in a school bathroom. Flynn said he called Byard to figure out what kind of statement to release to the school community after the victim’s father, Scott Smith, caused an explosive scene on campus.

In the phone call, prosecutor Theo Stamps said Flynn told Byard, “This is bad.”..

Loudoun County principal takes stand in perjury trial | wusa9.com