Latest news with #BeyonceMass
Yahoo
27-07-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-teacher's aide, charged in Augusta County with sexual assault, facing more allegations
A former teacher's aide, already charged in Augusta County amid allegations she sexually assaulted two students, is now facing charges in neighboring Rockbridge County. In May, Beyonce M. Mass, 23, of Staunton, was initially arrested on two charges of taking indecent liberties with a child by a custodian after being indicted by the Augusta County grand jury. In June, she picked up three identical charges, also in Augusta County. Mass is a former teacher's aide at the Valley Academy Regional Alternative School, which is located on John Lewis Road in Fishersville. Authorities began investigating Mass in December after Child Protective Services notified the Augusta County Sheriff's Office about the sexual assault allegations. The sheriff's office said it determined inappropriate relationships between Mass and male students at the school allegedly took place off is no longer employed by the school, which opened in 2019 and is jointly run by Augusta County Public Schools and Waynesboro Public Schools. More: Former Nexus executive Richard Moore's sentencing delayed again: Here's what happened She was initially granted a $5,000 bond following a June 2 video appearance in Augusta County Circuit Court, and was placed on home electronic monitoring. Mass was released from Middle River Regional Jail the following day. But one day after her release, Mass was back in jail on three additional charges of taking indecent liberties with a child by a custodian. At the first bond hearing, where Mass was granted bond, Augusta County Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney William Sukovich said the investigation of the former teacher's aide started in December after a male juvenile who attended the school was caught sneaking out of his home to reportedly meet Mass. She allegedly sexually abused the boy on at least two occasions, according to the prosecutor. Following her second arrest, Mass was again granted bond on June 6 in Augusta County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court. However, Sukovich appealed, keeping her behind bars. Following the appeal, the bond issue went before Judge Sean Workowski in Augusta County Circuit Court, where Sukovich told the court a second Augusta County victim had come forward and alleged that Mass was a "groomer." Sukovich said the teen told authorities that he and Mass allegedly engaged in sexual relations about 15 times, once at a local truck stop in a vehicle. Despite Workowski initially giving Mass a bond at her first hearing in circuit court, the judge upheld Sukovich's appeal and denied bond the second time around. Last week on July 14, in Rockbridge County Circuit Court, Mass was indicted on a felony charge of taking indecent liberties with a child by a custodian. She was also indicted on a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, court records show. Mass is now facing six felony charges and one misdemeanor. She remains at Middle River Regional Jail. More: Lofton Lake Volleyball Camp a unique experience in Augusta County for area youth More: Project GROWS' youth leadership program has been 'heart changing' for some area teens This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Beyonce Mass facing more sexual assault allegations in Rockbridge Co.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-teacher's aide, accused of sex crimes with students, jailed again on new charges
A former teacher's aide at a Fishersville school who is accused of sexually assaulting male students was jailed on a new batch of charges after recently being granted bond. Authorities initially arrested 23-year-old Beyonce M. Mass, of Staunton, on May 28 on two charges of taking indecent liberties with a child by a custodian after she was directly indicted by the Augusta County grand jury. A direct indictment bypasses the lower courts and the case begins in the circuit court. Mass was a teacher's aide at the Valley Academy Regional Alternative School, which is located on John Lewis Road in Fishersville. The Augusta County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation of Mass in December following a referral from Child Protective Services. The sheriff's office said it determined multiple inappropriate relationships between Mass and male students allegedly took place off campus. Mass is no longer employed by the school. More: Staunton's Frontier Culture Museum is expanding with the addition of an indoor space On June 2, she appeared in Augusta County Circuit Court via video monitoring from Middle River Regional Jail in Verona for a bond hearing following her initial arrest. At the hearing, where she was given a $5,000 bond and placed on home electronic monitoring, Augusta County Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney William Sukovich said the investigation of Mass started after a male juvenile was caught sneaking out of his home. When the parents of the teen, who was under the age of 16, confronted Mass, Sukovich said she requested permission to continue the alleged relationship. Mass had known the student for a "few years" and worked with him at the school, the prosecutor said. Mass sexually abused the boy on at least two occasions, according to Sukovich, and she is suspected of providing alcohol to the teen by dropping it off at his home. He said there is online evidence that she also discussed alcohol and marijuana with the juvenile. After a judge gave her a secured $5,000 bond, Mass was released from jail the next day on June 3. But just one day later, county authorities arrested her on three additional charges of taking indecent liberties with a child by a custodian. Lt. Leslie Snyder, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said the reported victim was a teenager. The alleged offense dates were in 2024, she said. Mass will appear in Augusta County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court on June 6 for a bond hearing on the three new charges. She remains at Middle River Regional Jail. More: After recovering from injury, Riverheads' Piner ready for state track and field meet More: Battle of the Bands 2025 to rock the Foundry in support of dental care for all This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Ex-teacher's aide charged again in Augusta County, jailed
