patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Robinson Band Teacher Sentenced for Solicitation of A Minor

Fairfax County Circuit Court sentenced Michael Keith Cook on July 12 to two years prison and two years probation.

 

A former Robinson Secondary School band director received a two-year prison sentence and two years probation for solicitation of a minor.

Michael Keith Cook, 43, of Centreville, was arrested on August 31, 2011, and charged with proposing sex to a child under 15 by computer.  Court records indicate Cook was first contacted in late July 2011 by an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old boy from the school.  

In February 2012, Cook entered an Alford plea in the case, maintaining his innocence while admitting there was enough evidence to convict him.

At Thursday's sentencing, Cook was ordered to register as a sex offender upon his release. He will undergo evaluation and treatment. He was also ordered to keep away from minors unsupervised, said a representative from the Fairfax County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

According to court records, Cook, through a series of emails and instant messages over eight days, asked for a photo, said he wanted to perform oral sex and tried to arrange a meeting in Fairfax County.

In an August 25, 2011, interview, police said Cook admitted to being the sole user of the email address associated in the exchanges.

Cook was hired by the Fairfax County public schools system in 1999. He had previously worked as a music teacher at Carson Middle School in Herndon and Stone Middle School in Centreville.  Before his arrest, he had been elected president of the Virginia Band & Orchestra Directors Association.

Since his arrest, Cook has been suspended without pay and not allowed on school property.

Related Topics: Crime, Fairfax County, Fairfax County Police Department, High Schools, Michael Keith Cook, Robinson Secondary School, and solicitation of a minor

Gray

4:47 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012

How could this man be such an idiot? What an arrogant perv. Even though a young man 14 might have raging hormones, what could lead such an elderly looking plain man like Mike Cook to think the kid might want to act on those hormones with a man who looks like his grandpa? Cook should have stuck with the over 18 crowd.

Reply
Comment_arrow

Kathy

8:53 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012

That is why it's called an illness. There isn't rational thinking that goes on. HOWEVER he should have gotten help because you do know when there is something not right about who/what you have an attraction to.

Chelsea

9:12 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012

So sad....but mostly pathetic. Why would he want to risk RUINING his life and all of his achievements by doing this?! It is so sad that the world has come to this. All time low.

Reply

Kathy

8:50 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012

I do hope that this is the first time this has happened. I am concerned about other children that he didn't get caught with. Are they investigating that? Is there a way for those who might of had the same thing happen to them to report the incident?

Reply

Leave a comment