Arlington elementary school worker held without bond, charged with sodomy and battery

A man who serves as an instructional assistant at an Arlington County, Virginia, elementary school was arrested on sex crimes charges and is being held without bond in the Arlington County Detention Facility.

Jonathan Almanza Zapata, 30, of Arlington, is accused of sexually assaulting and inappropriately touching a juvenile during an almost two-year period between September 2016 and June 2018, an Arlington County police news release said.

Zapata is charged with forcible sodomy and aggravated sexual battery.



Authorities received a call about the allegations last Sunday. On Wednesday, police headed over to a residence on North Pershing Drive in the Douglas Park neighborhood, where Zapata was taken into custody.

He currently works for Carlin Springs Elementary School, where he has been placed on administrative leave following his arrest.

Police also said their initial investigation found that Zapata had no inappropriate contact with kids at the school. They want to know if there are others who believe they may have had an inappropriate encounter with Zapata.

They can call Detective S. Gomez with the Arlington County Police Department at 703-228-4173. Information can be reported anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Ken Duffy

Ken Duffy is a reporter and anchor at WTOP with more than 20 years of experience. He has reported from major events like the 2016 Democratic and Republican National Conventions, 2016 Election Night at Trump Headquarters in Midtown Manhattan and the 2007 Super Bowl in Miami.

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